Everybody knows that catchers are expected to be a wall behind the plate. They put various body parts on the line on most every pitch; sometimes it’s their chest getting pelted, other times their kneecaps, on occasion they even need to use their face masks to block a ball. But what you don’t usually see is a backstop taking one of those cage-rattling hits … and then still recording an out?
Rangers catcher Jonah Heim did exactly that on Monday night against the Marlins, making a catch that doesn’t have much precedent. Miami hitter JJ Bleday fouled a two-strike 86 mph pitch straight back into Heim’s mask, and while normally the hitter gets credit for spoiling a pitch and the at-bat goes on, Heim had other ideas.
After taking the blow and regaining his composure, Heim saw the ball had ricocheted off his mask and high into the air. With cat-like reflexes, he sprung into action, taking two steps to his right, diving and corralling the foul ball with his bare hand.
“Hey, that’s a catch!” said the home-plate umpire, who actually had to jump out of the way and almost seemed shocked to be calling it an out.
But an out it was, and if you’re scoring at home … well, unfortunately for Heim it’s merely a K in the books, but we’ll still remember what he did to make it happen.