Catchers take plenty of abuse behind the plate.
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim illustrated that in graphic detail Sunday night in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros. In the bottom of the second inning, Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña fouled a pitch into the dirt. In one of those terrible bounces catchers know all too well, the ball bounced directly into Heim’s groin.
You can see Heim wince in pain at the blow before taking his mask off. Then he did something surprising. He smiled.
On the mound, Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi had the same reaction. He winced, covering his face with his glove as if to unsee the wayward foul ball. Then he cracked a big smile, too.
Nathan Eovaldi is all of us. 😅 pic.twitter.com/ZAqTuBe0Cq
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 23, 2023
Heim did not appear to be affected, because two innings later he cracked a two-run home run off Framber Valdez to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
So Game 6 gave Heim two moments he won’t forget. Fans admired the way he shook off the errant foul tip.
Hilarious mixed facial emotions
— Spirituality (@addictcoaching) October 23, 2023
Nathan Eovaldi had the fitting reaction on the wild ball heading to Jonah Heim's crotch area 😬pic.twitter.com/yWK0bNs4vC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 23, 2023
Heim a psychopath smiling like that 🤣😭
— DabKing (@DabKing86) October 23, 2023
Ok that was legitimately funny
— Chris Bowman (@BigBodyBowman) October 23, 2023
It’s great that will all the pressure of post season baseball you can still laugh about taking one in the nuts.
— Stevie Reno (@stevonix) October 23, 2023
Get hit in the nuts, hit a two run HR the next inning
— Brad Greenway (@BradGreenway) October 23, 2023
[Cut 4] Photo Credit: FS1]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.