NEW YORK -- Johan Rojas and J.T. Realmuto combined for an incredible double play Sunday during the Phillies' series finale against the Yankees.
And no matter how many times you watch the highlight, you'll still be wondering: How in the world did Realmuto make that tag?
Realmuto went airborne -- and then back to earth -- to corral a laser throw from Rojas and slap a tag down on a sliding Cody Bellinger in one fell swoop.
"The throw and tag? That was two athletes right there, making a really good play," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
In the bottom of the third inning of the Phillies' 4-3 loss at Yankee Stadium, Rojas and Realmuto saved a run with Bellinger trying to tag up and score on Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s flyout to left-center.
With Philadelphia down 4-2, Rojas fired a 97.3 mph throw home that looked like it was going to sail over Realmuto's head and to the backstop. But Realmuto's acrobatics saved the day.
Realmuto leaped to catch Rojas' throw and, with Bellinger bearing down on him, slapped the tag on him while in mid-air as he slid past to complete the inning-ending double play.
"Rojas has a really strong arm, so I saw him charging hard on it and felt confident that he was gonna make a good throw," Sunday's starter Zack Wheeler said. "And J.T. -- yeah, that's an athletic play right there, just jumping up and making the tag all in one."
When home-plate umpire Sean Barber made the "out" call, Bellinger was in shock, throwing up his hands in disbelief.
But he was out. The Yankees didn't even challenge.
Rojas' throw was the Phillies' fastest outfield assist this season, and it was the hardest direct outfield assist of Rojas' career (not counting throws cut off and relayed to a different base to get the out).
The last time the Phillies had a harder throw to the plate for an out was Brandon Marsh's 99.3 mph outfield assist on April 1 of last season -- when Realmuto had to make an eerily similar leaping play to get the Reds' Jonathan India at home.
Sunday's play was better, though. Realmuto had to jump higher, and the tag was harder.
Wheeler had a front-row seat to Realmuto's aerial display. He was right behind the plate, backing up the play if the throw got over Realmuto's head. But with Realmuto manning the dish, did he ever really think he was going to be called into action, even when the ball came out hot from Rojas' hand?
"I don't know," Wheeler mused. "I mean, J.T. … He's an athlete. And he's one of the best ones on the team. So, yeah, I'm always going to be back there just in case, but I was right there and it was a really good play by both of them."
The Phillies' ace needed a little help from his defense on a day where he was uncharacteristically erratic -- Wheeler allowed four runs, walked two and hit three batters, although he still got through 5 2/3 innings and struck out eight.
Luckily, he has Realmuto on his side. He might be the only catcher in baseball who makes that play.
Realmuto had to go way up there to snag Rojas' throw. Thomson doesn't recall seeing any other catcher do it like J.T.
"I don't think I have, no," Thomson said. "That was real athletic."