Misner's glove game-changer for Rays in center 

This story was excerpted from Adam Berry's Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

TAMPA -- The fifth inning threatened to get away from Shane Baz last week in Houston. The Astros had already trimmed the Rays’ lead from three runs to one, then all of a sudden, they had runners on the corners with two outs and Isaac Paredes at the plate.

Paredes worked a typically tough at-bat, then lined Baz’s sixth pitch toward the gap in left-center field. If it landed, it could have been a two-run double. But Kameron Misner made sure the ball found his glove, not grass. Misner got a great jump on the ball, ran it down and slid to make the catch.

“He's a ballhawk -- in a good way. He runs downhill for the ball. A ball goes up like that, and you don't really know,” Baz said. “Then I see him tracking it, and I'm like, 'Oh, he's catching that, for sure.' He makes my job a lot easier. It's nice having him out there.”

Misner’s excellent defense is the main reason the Rays made him their primary center fielder with Jonny DeLuca still sidelined by a right shoulder strain for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old’s offensive numbers have regressed after a hot start to the season, but his defensive statistics reflect what the Rays see on a daily basis.

“I think everyone that's watched him play knows he's playing an unbelievable, Gold Glove-type center field,” Rays first-base coach Michael Johns said. “He’s doing everything right. I mean, his first step's really good. He's using his speed. He's hitting his top speeds. His route efficiency has been good. And at the end of the day, he's fearless. There's not a ball that goes up that he doesn't think he can get.”

When the Rays made the difficult decision to send down Chandler Simpson while reinstating Jake Mangum from the injured list, Misner’s defense played a part in their decision-making process. Right fielder Josh Lowe isn’t going anywhere. Mangum’s early season performance merited a longer look in left. And Misner has made it clear he’s their best defensive option in center.

According to Statcast, Misner entered Thursday’s series finale against the Rangers in the Majors’ 95th percentile regarding Fielding Run Value. He had totaled five Outs Above Average, more than all but eight outfielders in the big leagues.

“He has really covered ground really well, and it does seem a lot of his plays come with two outs and guys on base,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He's diving all over the field. He's getting elite jumps. He's worked really hard at it, and that's very important to us. Want to see that continue.”

While praising Misner’s overall defensive work, Johns highlighted that Misner handled the outfield well at George M. Steinbrenner Field. It’s a challenging environment for outfielders, between the “high sky,” the unpredictable wind and the lack of an upper deck to provide contrast with the ball.

“It feels like he gets good jumps every time. Obviously, he can run them down. Got a good arm. He plays extremely smart,” starter Zack Littell said. “We don't see him throwing balls all over the field and giving up extra bases. … He's done it extremely well, and it's been fun to watch.”

Misner came to the Majors with a solid defensive reputation, and he said he’s always played center field with confidence. But Johns said he’s “taking it to another level” this season. For that, Misner credits Rays shortstop Taylor Walls.

Playing behind Walls in center, Misner has a good view of what makes him a special defensive player. Walls’ instincts and preparation allow him to get tremendous jumps, move before anyone else on the field and seemingly anticipate things before they happen.

Outfielders usually react a split-second slower than infielders, because they’re further away from the ball, but Misner has made it a goal to react and move as quickly as Walls -- if not even quicker.

“I think playing behind him has helped me a lot,” Misner said. “If you watch him, he's moving two steps before anybody else is. So I think I'm just really trying to beat his jump, just be earlier than he is.”