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A controversial home run from a minor league baseball game is going viral online. The play saw a fielder catch what looked to be a routine fly ball before accidentally dropping the ball over the fence.
The homer sparked a major reaction from viewers on social media as fans posted responses to the bizarre call.
In a triple-A matchup between the Oklahoma City Dodgers and the Sacramento River Cats, utility man Devin Mann hit a pitch to right-center field. Centerfielder Bryce Johnson ran the fly ball down, appearing to make the catch before reaching the warning track.
He then leapt up onto the outfield wall as his momentum continued to carry him, with his glove-hand going over the fence during the act. Johnson accidentally dropped the ball over the wall, resulting in a home run.
What is a catch, anyway?@Dodgers prospect Devin Mann hits a controversial home run on a dropped ball for the @okc_dodgers: https://t.co/LhnCgmuHTa pic.twitter.com/ZS54K4EmrC
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 17, 2023
Fans were quick to react. Should this have been ruled a catch or a homer?
Some believed the batter should’ve been out. The fielder took a number of steps after controlling the ball before accidentally dropping it over the fence.
This fan wrote, “That is a wild play. Clearly should’ve been an out.”
Another said, “Umpires should really try using some common sense.”
Others, though, agreed with the call based on the definition of a catch.
— The Chad (@Cwick25) July 17, 2023
“From my point of view, it looked like a pretty solid catch,” Mann said after hitting the bizarre homer. Initially, it was actually ruled an out before umpires convened to overturn that decision.
One of the wilder plays you’ll see this season.