In the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, San Diego left fielder Jurickson Profar robbed Mookie Betts of a home run in an unconventional manner.
Mookie Betts was robbed of a home run in the first inning by Jurickson Profar.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 7, 2024
A fan in the Dodger Stadium crowd appeared to take it out of his glove.
Hate to see it.
pic.twitter.com/JJz9Y12HG2
Betts hammered a pitch down the left-field line. As Profar chased after the ball, he and fans in the seats simultaneously reached out. It appeared to be a home run. As Betts rounded the bases, the Fox Sports broadcasting team announced that he had homered. Although Profar gloved the ball, he resorted to a bit of gamesmanship, waiting to let others know he had made the catch.
In the words of Sports Illustrated's Ryan Phillips, Profar was "pretty sneaky."
Fanning the flames of the burgeoning Dodgers-Padres rivalry, Profar not only fooled the Fox broadcasters but taunted Dodgers fans. Staring at the fans after making the catch, he jumped up and down several times, milking the situation and not revealing that the ball was in his glove until moments later.
WOW!! JURICKSON PROFAR ROBS MOOKIE BETTS OF A HOME RUN!!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024
Watch in 4K on the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/aUkqFlKTFV
Fox Sports subsequently interviewed Profar in the Padres dugout and he said he had always dreamed of making a home run-robbing catch.
"That was one of my wishes. I wanted to rob a homer, and I did it in a playoff game so it was awesome!"
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024
Jurickson Profar was all smiles describing his home run robbery to @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/S32HfRtL6W
The Padres are seeking to even the NLDS, which the Dodgers lead 1-0.
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