Baseball delivers the unexpected almost every night, and Friday’s Guardians-Royals matchup was no exception.
What looked like a routine at-bat in an early April contest turned into one of the strangest strikeouts you’ll ever see.
Here’s what happened: Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis was facing Kansas City’s Jonathan India. With two strikes, Gaddis fired a fastball inside. India started his swing, just enough to move the knob of his bat toward the incoming pitch.
Guardians catcher Austin Hedges reached to catch the inside fastball, but the ball deflected off India’s bat knob. Instead of falling to the dirt, the foul tip landed directly on Hedges’ right quad. In a display of remarkable reflexes, Hedges immediately snagged it with his bare hand.
Just like that – strikeout complete. Foul tip caught. Batter out. But the way it happened? That’s something you might never see again.
That’s one way to do it pic.twitter.com/nfFxeQAgY6
— MLB (@MLB) April 12, 2025
The play showcases why Hedges is considered one of baseball’s elite defensive catchers. His lightning-quick reaction turned what should’ve been a routine foul ball into an out.
It’s also worth noting that Gaddis has been emerging as a dominant bullpen arm for Cleveland. Last season, he punched out 13.5 batters per nine innings – putting him among the league’s most effective strikeout artists.
As for India? Sometimes baseball just isn’t fair. He ends up with one of the unluckiest strikeouts you’ll see all season on a play where the ball never even touched the catcher’s mitt.
That’s baseball for you – just when you think you’ve seen it all.
