He had it in his glove. It would have been one of the greatest catches in MLB history.
Unfortunately for the Boston Red Sox, Wilyer Abreu's effort to steal a home run from New York Yankees player Oswaldo Cabrera fell short when the ball did not stay in the outfielder's glove.
It was during the top of the second inning at Boston's Fenway Park when Cabrera launched a ball deep into right field off Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford.
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Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu makes a diving catch on a home run hit by New York Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera during the second inning at Fenway Park. (Gregory Fisher/USA Today Sports)
Abreu followed the ball the entire way, running backward as it approached the 380-foot sign on the short wall.
The ball looked destined to go out of bounds, but Abreu launched himself into the air and it was a real act of faith as he still had his eyes on the ball.
As the ball came down, it landed in Abreu's glove, but his body slammed into the seats above the wall. Abreu's legs flew through the air, but on the live broadcast it looked like he made the catch of the year as he held his glove in the air.
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However, when Abreu opened his glove, there was nothing inside. All that effort was in vain, as Cabrera rounded the bases to give his Yankees a 4-3 lead over their division rival.
Upon closer inspection, Abreu did indeed have the ball in its leather case. However, when he made contact with the seats, the ball slipped out of his hand and his wrist slammed into the row behind him.
Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu walks the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Fenway Park. (Gregory Fisher/USA Today Sports)
The Red Sox were concerned that Abreu might have been hurt after sacrificing his body to make the play. Abreu was only concerned about not being able to keep the ball in his glove.
The Boston faithful still gave Abreu a thunderous ovation for his effort, and his attempt to steal a home run received praise on social media.
“Big kudos to Wilyer Abreu for this effort,” MLB Network contributor Jared Carrabis posted on X. “He caught the ball. The ball came loose when it hit the seat. That would have been one of the best catches I've ever seen.”
Abreu knows that “almost” will always be tied to the play, but he also hit a solo homer to start a three-run inning for the Red Sox in the bottom of the first that tied the game.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu walks in the dugout before a game against the Miami Marlins on July 3, 2024 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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In 77 games through Saturday, Abreu, a 5-foot-10 Venezuelan outfielder, has hit .266/.327/.477 with eight homers and 32 RBIs.
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