MESA, Ariz. – It didn’t take long for Matt Chapman to demonstrate what all the fuss is about regarding his defense.
The A’s 2014 first-round draft pick made the play of the afternoon in Monday’s intrasquad game, sliding to his right to stab Billy Burns’ sharp grounder and making the throw to first to get the speedy Burns.
“This is the first time I’ve been on the field with the veterans,” said the 22-year-old Chapman, taking part in his first big league camp. “Coming off that play to go take my first at-bat, I was excited. It was hard to calm myself down a little bit.