Home / Sports / Yankees Catcher Takes Foul Ball to the Mask
Yankees Catcher Takes Foul Ball to the Mask
1 Oct
Summary
- Bullpen catcher intentionally let a home run hit his mask.
- The viral moment occurred during Yankees' Game 1 win over Red Sox.
- The catcher had planned this stunt for weeks.
New York Yankees bullpen catcher Rainiero Coa became an internet sensation after intentionally allowing a grand slam hit by Ben Rice to strike his mask during Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series. The dramatic moment occurred Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees secured a 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Coa revealed this was a planned stunt, discussed with colleagues for the past two weeks. "I had been talking about it for the last two weeks of the season," Coa stated. "Like, 'Hey, if I get a chance, I'm going to wear one off my chest in the bullpen, or off my mask.' But it didn't happen."
When Rice hit the ball high into the night sky with the bases loaded, Coa saw his opportunity. He positioned himself, letting the ball strike his face mask, leaving a visible mark. "I heard the crowd," he said, "and I saw the ball. I got behind the ball and I went with my mask, and it went perfectly."
The incident delighted the pitchers and coaches in the bullpen, with video of the moment quickly going viral. Coa, who has been a bullpen catcher for four years and previously managed a Yankees Dominican Summer League team, expressed happiness over the memorable event. He later gave the baseball to Ben Rice, the player who hit the home run.
