Fly ball bounces off right fielder's head for home run

A fly ball off the bat of a Rockies batter struck the glove and then the head of the Angels right fielder before clearing the right-field fence for a solo home run at Angel Stadium. The play occurred in the fourth inning and gave the Rockies an 8-0 lead. The right fielder had tracked the ball toward the wall and appeared positioned for an out before the ball deflected.

Play details The right fielder stated after the game that the ball nicked off his glove before striking his head. He finished the game 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The right fielder said the outcome looked unusual but described it as an isolated incident. He added that he would continue playing and that the team would move forward.

Comparison to prior play The sequence resembled a 1993 defensive play in which a ball also deflected off an outfielder's head and over the fence. That earlier play occurred at the right-field wall during a Rangers game. The right fielder had a similar deflection in 2020 that resulted in a four-base error rather than a home run.

He had been a Gold Glove finalist in 2024 and made three home-run-robbing catches in one April game this season. Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez allowed eight runs in 3⅔ innings and took the loss. Manager Kurt Suzuki noted the right fielder's defensive improvement over recent seasons.