One of the Best Catches You Will Ever See

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[@AntonelliBaseball]

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[@kg4wwn]

Anyone who says this isn't an impressive catch has never tried to catch a baseball that wasn't in front of them.

[@HolySoliDeoGloria]

You hit all the high points: (1) The game situation made this a do-or-die play. (2) Playoffs. (3) The distance he covered before the catch. (4) Having to run almost directly backward. (5) Having to switch from looking over the left shoulder to looking over the right or even straight back. (6) The approaching fence. (7) The lack of a warning track. This isn't a matter of difficulty of the play, but he also caught it funny, around the heel of his palm instead of in the web or the pocket of the glove, so he probably didn't catch it cleanly and had to secure it with his bare hand, while running into the wall. The only increase in difficulty would be having to lay out, as Jim Edmonds did.

[@bmhoffm]

That was at Clemson. You can't really see it on the video, but they have a hill that starts about 10 feet before the wall instead of a dirt warning track, so Cannarella was actually running uphill at the very end.

[@HolySoliDeoGloria]

@@bmhoffm Didn't know that-thanks!

[@jeffchaney6089]

You just repeated everything the video said...yawn

[@mikeh.9954]

Watched every minute of this game. After seeing the catch I thought "Antonelli will have this one!". The storylines in this game where fantastic. I'm guessing you could do 8-10 videos on clips in this game alone. I'll add this too. College baseball is so much more fun when compared to the MLB. The passion from the players and fans -- it's much watch TV! The UNC game on Friday night was outstanding as well. Can't wait to hear more from Matt on this game!

[@bruceboman9801]

Best game of the weekend!

[@ZBFLEX]

Compares to the famous over the shoulder with his back toward home plate that Willie Mays made

[@AdamtheGrey02]

Jim Edmond's over the head diving catch always blew my mind but this was a very good one as well considering he's looking both ways over his own shoulder as well as veering in those same directions to boot.

[@dillonhatfield7724]

That is absolutely one of the best catches of all time. I'd only put Edmonds' over it

[@Tiger1016.]

Would love to see you cover Derek Clark's pitching performance in game 1 of the North Carolina and West Virgina series. Went 144 pitches over 9 innings. It as one of the most inspiring efforts that I have ever watched. It felt like watching For the Love of the Game mixed with Rudy and watching a mom lift a buring car off of her baby kind of adrenaline fueled effort all at the same time. He was trying to make it through a complete game because the pitching staff was wrecked going into the series. It was heartbreaking to see WV walk away with the loss, but it was also one of the best college baseball games that I have ever watched.

[@cdrum5994]

Jim Edmonds’ catch in 97 was unreal but this catch too - 100% incredible for that young kid.

[@kevinsills5532]

Incredible effort coming off the home run he hit minutes before. With all respect to Willy, this kid had BOTH feet in the air! 100% commitment - catch or die trying. The thrill of Victory!

[@w.neuman]

That WAS A Great Catch ! 😮

[@donaldhunt4]

As soon as I saw that catch I thought to myself, Jomboy and Matt Antonelli will be making a video on this

[@AntonelliBaseball]

You are a smart man

[@j0elyman]

The fact that so many odds are stacked against him -- having to take his eyes off the ball, no warning track, having to probably start shallow because of game situation -- make this an amazing adjustment play, for sure. Still wondering why he started by turning right/non-glove side but maybe wind was a factor with the ball flight...

[@rp4759]

Outfielders and infielders practice these over the head catches routinely. In high school we did this every practice. Not saying It's not a difficult catch, but players make them look routine after awhile. A centerfielder for a D1 school didn't end up there on accident. The guy has some defensive skills.

[@seanp9277]

Yes. It takes a lot of practice.

[@johndee152]

Anyone that says that wasn't an amazing catch has never really played baseball. The guy is doing whatever he could to keep his team in the game. Most people would probably wait for the ball to hit the field, but he went for it, what ever the cost to himself. Great Catch.

[@dfscott62]

This game was tough as a Clemson fan -- so many plays lined up for the storybook ending (this catch, the homer in the top of the ninth to send it to extras, the go-ahead homer in the top of the 13th to take the lead). But then it was all for naught when FL won it in the end. Great game, though and good luck to FL!

[@snuffmeister6720]

as a guy who always had to play cf when i was a kid,this catch makes me jealous

[@DUPioneerHockeyFan]

The fielder should have gone full Willy Mays and knocked his hat off after making the catch. Jeez missed opportunity 😂. Great catch.

[@jc9240]

Not the Greatest Catch in Baseball History, perhaps College Baseball History, Check out again Willie May’s 1950’s era Catch as a San Francisco Giants Baseball Player

[@swampdweller5]

That was amazing. Great video too! Thanks for sharing…

[@danielcastiglione5328]

Don’t forget that Clemson has a warning hill, not a warning track. So you are running up hill, jumping up a hill.

[@Tommy-my1jw]

Devout Clemson baseball fan here. Same as some others have said, one of the first things I thought about was anticipating what Matt would have to say about this. But on that topic, there were at least two other points in the game I hope to find Matt's comments on. One was the earlier ejection of Jack Crighton...after the Nawrocki/Caglianone....where if anybody is ejected at all, it at least should have been the Florida first baseman... And then in the top of the 13th where coach Bakich and Leggett were both ejected after Mathes hit the go-ahead HR

[@seanp9277]

Over the shoulder catches while running full out are extremely difficult. You have to rely on peripheral vision to track the ball. If you focus too much on the ball you risk losing your balance.

[@knockoutartist101]

Then y’all ain’t seen me out in the outfield! Ez play. He better catch that with a smile..Zzzzzzz

[@ChrisVanStory61984]

For anyone who thinks this was not a great catch or feels this was an easy play to make clearly has never played a competitive game beyond T-ball. Trust me, having been a collegiate center fielder myself I can tell you that nothing about this play is easy. In fact, I would bet my life to say that anyone who truly knows baseball would agree this catch is the hardest catch to achieve

[@MiC-T]

You can't teach clutch. Only the great ones pull this off.

[@AKispert1965]

He raised his draft stock with that catch. As an outfielder once I know what it's like to have to take off at a dead sprint to try to catch up with the ball and if you slow down prematurely for one moment to locate the ball you won't make it to the ball and it's pure timing, effort and a bit of luck.

[@bruceboman9801]

Mention the bank/swail also. It's not level out there. Fantastic.

[@nynole1]

I made tbis same catch playing softball about 12 year ago. In my case, it was purely luck because you can't see the ball until it's almost at eye level.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

100%!

[@nynole1]

@@AntonelliBaseball I can't speak for the clemson player, but I'm guessing he would probably admit he got lucky too haha

[@gregh2322]

The degree of difficulty on that catch was off the charts. Just great!

[@gearbarrel6237]

Best catch I have ever witnessed! Gators still rolled though 😂😂😂 Let’s go Gators 🐊.

[@nickw22689]

Yeah, that catch was bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

[@jeffchaney6089]

I made a better catch than that " once " ...then i married her...♥️🙏

[@bryantmorton7908]

Interception from an extra base hit.

[@Mitten4371]

Yea I pitched from little league to highschool and at age 13 I played travel baseball for coaches that played pro or college. But when I was playing travel baseball our coach would stand in center field then we would stand either on the left field line or the right field line. Then we would run to our coach with a ball in our hand and as soon as we flipped him the ball then we would sprint to make over the shoulder catches. So that's how he was able to make this catch look so easy

[@joshuaanderson4090]

WTF are you talking about?

[@Mitten4371]

@@joshuaanderson4090 Oh my bad your just an average baseball fan and only players like me who played for a very long time are the only ones who understands. But our coach would stand in center field and then us players we would stand on either the right field line or the left field line. Then each player would run to where he was and then with a ball in our hand we would flip it to him and us players we would sprint and make over the shoulder catches. So that is how this center fielder was able to make this catch because you are actually taught to make over the shoulder catches like he did. So that is how he was able to make this catch look easy but as an outfielder you are taught to be on your toes and moving as soon as the pitcher releases the baseball

[@lancegray1842]

That what we do , TIGERS DO

[@joy-of-chemotaxis]

Matt, I don't watch baseball much, but your videos make me see the excitement in the sport. I'm binging on your channel - now YT is recommending all the sports / baseball channels!

[@Nugsy_SiegeI]

Playing outfield can sometimes be so dull, but when given an opportunity to make a great play like that and succeed. No better feeling. I used to get so high off making a diving catch or being so over extended to make a catch you have to go into a roll, but still make the catch. Some of my favorite memories from playing baseball happened in a position I was bored in most of the time. Lol.

[@Hrothfuurd]

Willy Mays Hayes 😂

[@PeterWilliamson-nn9et]

Big league play

[@jameslynn-wl9im]

What is his name?

[@kevmac1230]

That was a great catch.

[@tfs0004]

If you have ever played outfield, you know any ball hit over your head is going to be a tough play. This was an insane catch especially when you consider he took his eyes off the ball while running back

[@alvinthecat8426]

Can o corn!

[@ronondechek14]

Where’s the warning track on the field? Unreal catch!

[@jdobbs876]

The balls hit over your head like this one are always the hardest to catch. As nynole1 said, you don't see the ball until the last second.

[@johng6350]

Agreed. Only way it could've been harder is if he'd had the sun in his eyes.

[@EnjoySackLunch]

Bad route. Ball caught him more than he caught it.

[@kc1192]

Yeah, either bad route or that ball was really slicing. But main thing is he stuck with it.. total focus

[@psra8er512]

Great catch, but you got to feel bad for the batter. He was all ready to celebrate and be the hero!

[@ticnatz]

Very impressive catch....

[@howie9751]

Very Wille Mays!

[@jamesmcgovern]

Additionally, the field goes up as they approach the fence at Clemson. It is not a flat field. Their warning track is raised. He ran up a hill and caught this, which is insanely hard. I used to practice catching like this and missed far more than I caught.

[@jhanks2012]

personally idk man, it was a good catch, but not an amazing one. he took a zig-zag pattern to the ball. Andruw Jones would have caught it walking.

[@johnanthony9923]

I mean....if he actually judged and played it correctly....and didn't look over his left shoulder...then run straight back....then switch to his right shoulder...then randomly jump before the wall....it would have just been a "nice" play. lol He made it look like a great play by misplaying it so badly. Some players make it look easy, while others make it look like this. lol

[@AntonelliBaseball]

You are a tough critic lol

[@pahbert]

Yeah. I mean... why wasn't he just standing where the ball was going to land in the first place? What, is he stupid?

[@bruce4751]

I get what you mean, but at the same time, he was able to make the adjustment mid-run to make up for his initial miscalculation. Definitely impressive in that sense.

[@craigritchie8470]

Not so true… some of these balls hit to the outfield have some wicked spin and they tail away from you. In softball I played left a lot and guys would hit balls straight at me but it would just keep curving foul. Wicked, wicked spin sometimes… and knuckle balls too… I hated those.

[@bdbull]

Cam is the best college position player in the 2025 draft.