Orioles fan vies for MLB catch of the year with drink, phone, baby stroller in tow
MLB players will have a tough time beating this.
A Baltimore Orioles fan made a strong case for catch of the year from the upper deck Monday in a home game against the Cleveland Guardians.
With one out in the top of the third inning, Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor sent a deep foul ball off Orioles starter Cade Povich towering into the right-field stands. If not for the single fan sitting in the upper-deck section, the ball appeared destined to leave the park.
Our hero was determined that it wouldn't. As the ball approached the outer railing of the upper deck, said fan reached out with his right hand and snagged it before it left the park. The broadcast camera zoomed in after the catch to reveal that the fan had both a drink and his phone in his left hand as he secured the catch.
Right place, right time for this @Orioles fan. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/C9Au0VZ6m5
— MLB (@MLB) June 24, 2024
The fan then struck a well-earned victory pose and tipped his cap for an appreciative Camden Yards crowd.
Replay showed that he bumped into a baby stroller as he made the catch. Dad later revealed in an interview with Baltimore Banner Sports that his name is Tim Byer and that his 3-year-old daughter was in the stroller.
I just caught up with Tim Byer, the fan who caught that ball.
He’s been to hundreds of #Orioles games. This was the first ball he’s ever caught at a game. https://t.co/jxR0QzDBu4 pic.twitter.com/QjHFVCLGAW— Paul Mancano (@PaulMancano) June 24, 2024
Mom was away for the catch, but back in the stands in time for his interview. The family had left their season-ticket seats in a lower deck for more room higher up.
"My seats are down there, but we came out here to spread out a little bit," Byer said.
The catch was his first ever at an Orioles game. It was a good one.
