In a regular-season Major League Baseball game on Saturday night, Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell recorded three home run-robbing catches. The Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 1-0 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
Defensive Plays
Adell's defensive actions occurred at different points in the game:
- First inning: Adell leaped above the right-field wall to prevent a solo home run by Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who was the second batter of the game.
- Eighth inning: Adell made a similar leaping catch above the wall to deny a home run by Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor, which would have tied the game.
- Ninth inning: Adell raced to the right-field corner, leaped to catch a drive by Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, and flipped over the low wall, falling into the first row of seats. The catch was upheld after a replay review.
According to multiple sources, this performance is believed to be the first time in baseball history a single player has recorded three home run robberies in one game.
Historical Context
Data from Inside Edge indicates that the most home run robberies by any single player in the entire 2025 season was four. Adell has accumulated 10 home run robberies since 2020, tying him with Kyle Tucker for the most in Major League Baseball during that period, according to the same source.
Player Background
Adell made his major league debut in 2020. In 38 games that season, he was recorded with a minus-4 Outs Above Average. He became a Gold Glove finalist in 2024.
Earlier in the same week, during a game on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, Adell misjudged a fly ball in the fourth inning that grazed his glove, bounced off his head, and went over the wall for a home run. The Rockies won that game 8-2. Adell stated at the time that he thought he had a longer route to the ball than normal.
Player and Team Comments
Adell stated that after the first two catches he believed his routes were accurate, and described the third catch as requiring determination. He noted that his landing in the stands during the ninth-inning play was softer than he anticipated.
Cal Raleigh commented that he had not previously witnessed a player rob two home runs in one game, let alone three.
Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner and special assistant to the general manager for the Angels, described the performance as "probably the greatest defensive game I've ever seen."
Hunter has worked with Adell on defensive skills in recent years. Adell credited Hunter's coaching with having a significant impact on his mindset, stating that the focus has been on being aggressive in pursuing the baseball.