12 best moments from MLB The Show Players League
With Major League Baseball's regular season stuck in limbo due to the pandemic, something was needed to fill the void. The MLB The Show Players League stepped up to the plate with gusto.
The season featured one player from each MLB team, with the group squaring off against each other in three-inning showdowns while broadcasting the games live. It was a wonderful opportunity for players to showcase their personalities and interact.
The playoffs ended Sunday with Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Blake Snell sweeping Chicago White Sox righty Lucas Giolito in the finals.
Let's take a look back at 12 of the best moments from the season.
Garrett hands controller off to fiance
AG letting his fiancé get the last out vs Jon Duplantier pic.twitter.com/NVfq7iVAbF
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 15, 2020
In a cold-blooded bit of trash talk, Cincinnati Reds reliever Amir Garrett handed his controller to his fiance to finish a drubbing of Jon Duplantier.
Bo knows (how to homer with) Bo
🎮 @BoFlows homering with @BoFlows is the content you need 😂 pic.twitter.com/5LbelpIgMO
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 13, 2020
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette proved adept at The Show in general, and he was absolutely pumped after ripping a home run with himself during the early days of the season.
Tatis homers 3 times with Tatis
.@tatis_jr homered as himself THREE times.
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2020
His reactions are incredible. 😂 pic.twitter.com/a34nBb1i5c
Not to be outdone, San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. homered with himself not once, not twice, but thrice against Bichette's Blue Jays. With his raucous celebrations, Tatis was just a blast to watch.
FaceTime during beatdown
.@DSmittyJr got the facetime from @NikoGoodrum up 17-0 in the Players League. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/9DmdnZDI8A
— MLB Gaming (@MLBGaming) April 20, 2020
While Dwight Smith Jr.'s "perfect game" vs. Hunter Pence is worth an honorable mention, nothing tops Smith's in-game FaceTime call with opponent (and close friend) Niko Goodrum. Smith's Orioles were putting the boots to Goodrum's Tigers while leading 17-0. Finally, Goodrum was about ready to give up.
Hunter Pence stops running
Pence thought he had the win and then his player stopped running 🤣
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 14, 2020
(Via @HunterPence) pic.twitter.com/Q1NgxUOPhd
Pence's baserunner inexplicably stopped running mere inches away from home plate as the Giants outfielder celebrated what would have been the game-winning run.
A series of unfortunate events
Jeff McNeil accidentally throws to 2nd instead of 1st on a dropped 3rd strike with 2 outs
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 15, 2020
Amir Garrett: "JEFFREY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
next pitch: Garrett hits an RBI 2B to LF, "that's why you don't make dumb mistakes! don't do dumb stuff!"
THEN WATCH WHAT HAPPENS 😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/srmD06OQiR
More Garrett trash talk. Here, the southpaw can't help himself and chides Jeff McNeil after the New York Mets infielder threw to the wrong base. A few moments later, Garrett makes a gaffe of his own. It's a cruel game.
Gallo comes back from certain defeat
OMG OMG
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 15, 2020
down 6-0 to Eduardo Rodriguez and the Red Sox, Gallo came all the way back and then came within INCHES of tying it with a HR from Odor
next batter was Ronald Guzmán and WOW HE REALLY JUST DID THAT pic.twitter.com/RHkn0dUdZC
Joey Gallo was the most impressive player in the early going of the season while crushing everyone. Trailing 6-0, it looked like he was about to suffer his first loss in a bout against Eduardo Rodriguez. He clawed back to within two with a pair of runners on base before walking it off.
Soto shuffle
Juan Soto works a full count, hits the virtual Soto Shuffle, and then OF COURSE HE DINGERS AS HIMSELF
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 14, 2020
"and now we dance!" 🕺🕺🕺https://t.co/ZySErkt169 pic.twitter.com/xiblIgbWCw
One of the visual delights in the game is Juan Soto's shuffle when he takes a couple of pitches out of the zone. Sure enough, he did the shuffle during the season, following it with a long ball for good measure.
Snell pulls himself
Blake Snell having to pull himself after getting destroyed by Gallo in the first inning. 😀 pic.twitter.com/mPSY33T8lI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 11, 2020
Eventual champion Blake Snell stumbled a bit early before eventually hitting his stride and finishing with the overall best record. His initial struggles were perhaps best exemplified by the left-hander removing himself from a game against the scorching hot Gallo in the first inning of their first bout. Ouch.
Giolito doesn't want to wake the cat
Lucas Giolito hitting a go-ahead grand slam against Fernando Tatis Jr. and celebrating with a "I can't be screaming, I got the cat back there" (he's fostering a cat) is extremely on brand
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 24, 2020
(also @jasonbenetti on the call)https://t.co/hMKrcY5LgV pic.twitter.com/oojwrrqkQd
Most players went insane celebrating their home runs, but Giolito kept it muted because his poor cat was sleeping.
Buttrey commits robbery
Come for Ty Buttrey's HR robbery, stay for @Amir_Garrett's reaction. 😂 pic.twitter.com/4GvVI2jrX9
— MLB Gaming (@MLBGaming) April 21, 2020
Garrett may have missed out on the postseason, but he was a gem to watch. When Ty Buttrey made a perfectly timed leap to steal a home run from him, Garrett almost lost his mind. He offered a tip of the cap, though, because robbing a home run is extremely tough to pull off.
Phillips goes wild
.@Brett_Phillips8 took down Joey Gallo with ... Brett Phillips. 😂 pic.twitter.com/0TOtEBTJPY
— MLB Gaming (@MLBGaming) April 24, 2020
Another joy to experience was Brett Phillips. His reaction was priceless after notching a walk-off win over Gallo.
Phillips' laugh might be the most distinct of the group, and it was heard again during Lance McCullers Jr.'s story about his half-eaten burrito.