CHICAGO -- It’s going to undoubtedly go down as one of the best baseball plays of the season. Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez, while sitting on the infield dirt, nearly threw out Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto in the sixth inning of the Marlins' 4-2 win on Thursday night.

“I knew I didn’t have it in my glove, so first thing I did was look up and the ball was right on top of me, so I grabbed it,” Baez explained Friday. “He’s a great runner for a catcher, so I needed to throw it right away.”

Baez ranged to his left, getting his glove on the ball, but it popped into the air as he went to the ground. After catching it with his bare hand, he turned and threw a bullet to first baseman Willson Contreras for the apparent out.

“I didn’t realize I was almost sitting down,” Baez said. “I knew he might be safe, but I tried.”

The call was overturned, but the fact that it needed reviewing is a testament to how close Baez came to making an amazing play. In fact he got Realmuto on Friday night when he dove into the stands down the left-field line, catching a foul ball by the Marlins' catcher. And one batter later Baez nearly went into the Marlins' dugout for another one.

Baez said he has heard from “everyone” about the play on Thursday and watched it a “bunch” of times.

“I’ve been watching it and laughing about it,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the best ones. I almost had him.”