Billy Hamilton makes diving catch in the mud and rain, a breakdown
What Happened
In a crucial late-inning moment, the Chicago White Sox are just two outs away from victory as the skies open up and the rain pours down. On the mound for the White Sox is right-hander Dylan Cease, facing Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler with two outs in the top of the 9th. Kepler steps to the plate and Cease delivers a pitch that Kepler crushes deep into left-center field. Sprinting to make the play is White Sox center fielder Billy Hamilton. As the ball sails through the air, Hamilton takes off, racing across the wet, muddy field. He fully extends his body, launching himself into a diving catch, snatching the ball just before it hits the ground. Hamilton lands hard in the mud, his uniform now covered in dirt and grime, but he holds onto the ball to record the final out. "Hamilton with the full leaping catch into the mud," exclaims the announcer. "What a fun time when it was really muddy." The camera captures Hamilton taking a moment to roll around in the mud, fully embracing the messy conditions. Twins pitcher Griffin Jax, a native of Germany, reacts with disappointment, while White Sox hurler Dylan Cease, an Australian, expresses his approval of the highlight-reel play. "That's power right there," the announcer notes, as the camera focuses on the baseball resting in Hamilton's muddy hand. "The front's dirty, the back's dirty - all I can think about is my mom's reaction if I did this while playing baseball." White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson yells at the dugout, "Stop watching the dugout and watch the game!" as the rain continues to fall. Cease then retires the final batter, securing the win for the White Sox in the rainy conditions. White Sox manager Tony La Russa approaches Hamilton, acknowledging the spectacular catch. "I know you hate me and I know I hate me too, but that's a hell of a catch," La Russa tells his center fielder. Hamilton simply responds, "Thanks, coach," before jogging off the field. It was a game-saving, momentum-shifting play by Billy Hamilton, who showcased his athleticism and determination in the muddy, rainy conditions to preserve the White Sox's victory.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentwe're in the ninth inning white sox two
outs away from the wind the skies opened
up and god said i hate you alfalfa
hendricks on the mound kepler in the box
two outs to go trying to lock down the
wind
as it pours and rains that ball is just
a little bit high and this one
is right in the middle and bombed into
left center but hamilton with the full
leaping catch
into the mud what a fun time when it was
really muddy my dad would take us to
play
mud baseball and mud soccer and that's
what this reminded me of
just a full leap according to all of my
analytics
he ran really far jumped really high
and made a great grab he gets the front
of the uniform muddy and then
rolls over and says let's get the back
muddy as well
some deep breaths and some big smiles
because that's just
you're just a little boy again hendricks
loves it
he looks he says oi i'm australian
and i liked it kepler i'm german and i
didn't like it
a bunch of nationalities and a bunch of
emotions hamilton american loves it
look at this ball in that muddy hand
that's power right there
the front's dirty the back's dirty all i
can think about is my mom's reaction if
i did this while playing baseball and
coming home and
she'd probably have to game plan a whole
strategy of how long she was gonna soak
it before putting in the machines
anderson says stop watching the dugout
and watch the game
throw some bubble gum at the camera and
then hendrix gets cenota foul that one
back the 2-2 pitch fouled back again
it's starting to rain that one
up in the air hamilton stays still he's
like i'm not gonna get this
you guys get this they make that grab in
the rain and the white sox are gonna win
this game
in the rain not sure if you know
but it was raining just a phenomenal
catch even if you didn't slide into the
mud it still would have been a great
grab
and he's gonna get dapped up by everyone
especially his manager
tony larussa who's gonna come up to him
right here and he's gonna say listen
i know you hate me and i know i hate me
too but that's a hell of a catch
thanks coach see you later