Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell delivered a defensive performance for the ages on Saturday, single-handedly robbing the Seattle Mariners of three potential home runs to secure a 1-0 victory for his team.
Adell's incredible hat-trick of robberies began by taking a homer away from star catcher Cal Raleigh in the early innings. He repeated the feat against first baseman Josh Naylor later in the game. The most dramatic catch came in the ninth inning, when he leaped into the right-field stands to steal a game-tying home run from J.P. Crawford off closer Jordan Romano.
The feat is unprecedented in modern baseball history. According to Sports Info Solutions, which began tracking home run robberies in 2004, no player had ever recorded three in a single game. Only two players had ever managed two.
"Sometimes you've got to help on the other side of the ball. I'm glad I did my job tonight," Adell said after the game, having also contributed a hit at the plate. The performance was witnessed by former Angels Gold Glover Torii Hunter, a renowned home run robber himself, who was impressed by the display.
For the Mariners, the loss was compounded by Cal Raleigh's ongoing slump. The catcher, who hit 60 homers last season, remains without one this year and praised Adell's historic effort.