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Ballboy makes heroic catch to protect fan

The job of a ballboy or ballgirl is important, but fairly mundane. They pick up errant baseballs and distribute them to fans, and they're never supposed to interfere with a live ball. But sometimes they're called upon to go above and beyond their normal duties. On Wednesday night, a ballboy answered that call with great reflexes and a dash of pizzaz.

The Minnesota Twins were taking on the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field, and the score was tied in the top of the ninth. Left fielder Joey Rickard was hitting for the Orioles, and on a 1-2 pitch from Kevin Jepsen, Rickard hit a screaming liner foul toward the stands down the right field line. The ball was traveling very fast, and it was headed right for a fan.

Enter one Twins ballboy, who saw where the ball was going and intervened.

Image: MLB
Image: MLB

With his glove outstretched, he jumped up and sideways so he was nearly horizontal, and caught the ball practically in the stands. It was just a foot from the head of a young fan.

The ballboy didn't bask in the glow of his amazing catch, though. He received high fives from several onlookers before smiling sheepishly and flashing a thumbs up. No gloating, no curtain calls — just like in the majors. He's already a pro! The fan the ballboy saved was so amazed by what had transpired that he couldn’t do anything but stare in open-mouthed admiration.

Entire ballgames happen without a catch as great as that one. The Twins should give that ballboy a special jersey with "SUPERMAN" written on the back, because that's exactly what he looked like when he was leaping for that baseball.

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