Watching Bader attack a batted ball is beautiful and intense. He’s a game-changer with his defense, making plays that often wouldn’t be made. He’s a battling St. Louis ball-hawk. On the stat site Baseball Savant, Bader ranks in the 97th percentile for “outfield jump.” During Tuesday night’s airtight game, Bader’s eighth-inning jump very well preserved the win. The score was 1-0, and the Cardinals sure weren’t hitting much, when Mauricio Dubon dropped in a ball to shallow center. Per Baseball Savant, there was an expected batting average on that hit of .620. But it wasn’t a hit – Bader sprinted in from center and caught the fly ball.
Hochman: Bader is Cards' safety in center
