Hurdling is usually reserved for track meets, but in the Royals' 13-3 victory over the Astros on Thursday afternoon you got to see it on a baseball field for a 6-3 putout that was anything but routine.

With Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. shaded up the middle and second baseman Nick Loftin cheating towards first, Astros catcher Victor Caratini hit a grounder that appeared ticketed for no man's land between them. Both players went for the ball, though Witt got there first. That was when things got a little jumpy.

When Loftin realized that Witt was about to make the play, he pulled up and in one motion leaped clear over his double-play partner. Cool under (literal) pressure, Witt ducked slightly and managed to keep his concentration, making the throw in time to first.

¡°I definitely saw him coming, but we just had to make the play,¡± said Witt, who also hit two homers and went 4-for-4 on the day.

It's no leap to say this was a true feat of athleticism on Loftin's part, reminiscent of Chris Coghlan's famous flight over Yadier Molina at home plate in 2017. But the nonchalance with which Witt saw his teammate flying over him and took it in stride was equally, if not more, impressive.

Both players luckily came away without a scratch and were able to laugh about it afterward. Their manager? Not so much.

"They thought it was funny. I didn't quite,¡± Royals skipper Matt Quatraro said.