WATCH: Jalen Battles makes spectacular double play at CWS
Arkansas shortstop Jalen Battles pulled off one of the best defensive plays of the college baseball season during an elimination game against SEC foe Auburn on Tuesday night. The senior pulled off an unlikely double play which seemed too good to be true but was held up by video replay after a challenge from the opposing dugout.
With one out and a runner on first base, Auburn first baseman Sonny DiChiara hit a groundball to the left side where Jalen Battles fielded it with a double play in mind. Before he could make the throw to first, he had to win a foot race to second base to get the force out there and avoid a collision with the runner in the process.
Battles managed to edge out the runner, then leaping up off his right foot while delivering a strike to first in time to get DiChiara out. Confident that he had made the play, he trotted to first after carrying his follow through and waited near the dugout for the umpires to confirm the call.
Jalen Battles gets new jersey number
Prior to their game against Ole Miss, Arkansas star Jalen Battles explained how he got the jersey number of longtime coach Dave Van Horn. Van Horn has worn the No. 2 jersey his entire career with Arkansas as a player and a coach both for 24 seasons, but for his 25th season with the Razorbacks he is wearing the No. 21 jersey after a promise made to Battles.
“I grew up idolizing Derek Jeter, I’ve been No. 2 since I started playing baseball,” explained Battles to ESPN. “It was more of just a joke at first. It’s like ‘Coach, you gonna’ give up No. 2?’ Towards the end of last year, I asked him ‘are you gonna’ give up 2 next year?’
Eventually, Battles’ constant pressure got through to his coach — as Van Horn made a promise he didn’t expect to have to keep.
“If you come back, I will,” said Van Horn to Battles.
“But that’s just a plus for me,” continued Battles. “Of course I wanted to come back and be a part of Omaha and potentially win a national championship.”