A player in San Francisco hit his first career triple on a ball that nearly turned into a highlight catch. The at-bat started with some loose pitches, including a foul ball that ended up in the stands, where a fan snagged it mid-hot dog. His friend couldn’t have cared less. After a couple more pitches, the batter got a fastball inside and crushed it 398 feet to right-center. The outfielder timed his jump and nearly pulled off an incredible grab, briefly having the ball in his glove before crashing into the wall and losing it on impact.
The base runner, thinking it was caught, hesitated for a moment before taking off. Replay showed how close the catch was. If the fielder had held it through a tumbling landing, it would’ve been a play-of-the-year moment. Instead, it’s scored a triple. The hitter looked thrilled, soaking in the moment after reaching third. Not only did he get his milestone hit, but he gave the crowd a near-classic play and a reason to cheer.