Nolan Arenado Quickly Blossoming into One of MLB's Best 3rd Basemen

To understand Nolan Arenado as a defensive force, you could pore over advanced metrics, contrasting ultimate zone rating (UZR) and defensive wins against replacement (dWAR). Or you could simply marvel at the double play the Colorado Rockies third baseman turned on April 24 against the San Francisco Giants.

With runners at first and second, no outs and the score knotted, Arenado speared a one-hopper off Casey McGehee's bat. He then sprang to his feet, stepped on third and, with Brandon Belt sliding under him, pirouetted and fired the ball to first.

Oh, here, just watch for yourself:

It wasn't the first time Arenado trolled the defending champs with his glove this season. On April 14 at AT&T Park, he flipped headlong over a tarp in foul territory to snag a Gregor Blanco pop-up and managed, somehow, to get a throw off, nearly nailing Angel Pagan at third.

Let's see that one, too:

Yes, those are just two plays. But they're part of a pattern of ridiculousness from Arenado, who is fast emerging as one of the best third basemen in the game. 

The former second-round pick snared a Gold Glove in each of his first two big league seasons, and last year he clubbed 18 home runs, posted an .828 OPS and set a franchise record with a 28-game hitting streak.

Last May, USA Today's Ted Berg declared Arenado "a human miracle" who combines "remarkable athleticism with the savvy of a 10-year veteran." And keep in mind, the kid just turned 24.

After going 1-for-5 in a 12-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Arenado was hitting .296 with three home runs and 12 RBI.

Yes, he makes his home at Coors Field, and like most Rockies, his splits look better in the Mile High City, per Baseball-Reference.com. The leather, on the other hand, plays at any altitude.

In fact, Arenado is part of an all-around excellent infield that also includes shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, second baseman DJ LeMahieu and first baseman Justin Morneau. The group has even earned a catchy nickname: the "Coors Shield," per Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. 

"I appreciate defense so much, so when I watch these guys play like that, it makes my day," Rockies special assistant and former slugger Vinny Castilla told The Denver Post's Nick Groke. "It's fun. And the way they go about their business, they love it."

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The only question mark with Arenado is his ability is stay on the field. His brash, dive-first-ask-questions-later style is what makes him such an exciting talent, but it can also lead to injuries.

Last season he landed on the disabled list with a broken middle finger suffered while sliding headfirst into second base. And he's already missed time this season with a sore wrist, though he managed to avoid the DL.

Think about that amazing tarp catch in San Francisco. Yes, it was one for the highlight reels, but it was also a high-risk move. Was that out worth the possibility of serious bodily harm?

"If I could do it again, I probably wouldn't go like that again," Arenado said during a postgame interview, per The Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman. "Obviously it's a play, to be honest, I never wanna go through again. It was scary. Thank god I didn't get hurt."

The Rockies certainly need a healthy Arenado to sustain their strong start. Entering play Wednesday, Colorado sits at 11-9, just one game back of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

Time will tell if Colorado can stay hot and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2009.

As long as Arenado is around, though, the Rockies will have something simmering at the hot corner.

All statistics current as of April 28 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.