The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Kansas City Royals’ Triple-A affiliate. The Storm Chasers are seventh in the International League West with a 50-55 record after Tuesday’s 8-2 loss to the Iowa Cubs.
Despite the Storm Chasers’ loss, baseball prospect John Rave produced the capture of the season.
Matt Mervis stepped to the plate in the top of the third inning with two runners on base and two outs. Mervis, facing a 1-2 count, laced a low-in-the-zone pitch deep to right-center field. Rave, who was monitoring center field for the Storm Chasers, tracked the ball to the wall and got his glove on it, but the ball popped out.
Nevertheless, he managed to capture the ball with his bare hand to complete the juggling catch:
The replay angle of the capture provides a clearer view, and you can see how Rave initially catches the ball with his glove before it pops out and hits his shoulder. Rave’s glove somehow prevents the ball from touching the wall or even flying over it, and the outfielder has the foresight to catch the ball with his bare hand while falling back to the warning track.
Tuesday night, Rave went 0-for-4 at the plate, but nobody will remember that. Instead, they will recall this bare-handed capture, which could very well be the catch of the year in baseball.
