Kahlil Watson, a 2021 first-round pick of the Miami Marlins, pulled off one of the most daring and exciting plays in all of baseball in a Minor League game on Monday — a straight steal of home.
Watson and the Beloit Sea Carp — the High-A affiliate of the Marlins — trailed the South Bend Cubs 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Watson was on third base with two outs and teammate Jacob Berry at the plate with the count full.
Noticing that pitcher Frankie Scalzo wasn’t paying much attention to him, Watson took off. In the end, there was no play. Scalzo’s 3-2 pitch was low and catcher Ethan Heard had gotten out of his crouch, ready for a potential play at the plate. With that, the ball hit the dirt and got by Heard for ball four and Watson slid home safely with no tag attempt.
⚡️ "ONE OF THE MOST ELECTRIFYING PLAYS YOU WILL EVER SEE"
Kahlil Watson steals home… TO TIE THE GAME. #ComebackCarp pic.twitter.com/GsMHcBQX1w
— Beloit Sky Carp (@beloitskycarp) July 4, 2023
A steal of home is one of the most exciting plays in sports. When they happen, people generally notice. That was the case here.
Absolutely electric https://t.co/3kkHip6xwd
— Luke Gamble (@LukeGambleTV) July 4, 2023
— Heady Baseball (@HeadyBaseball) July 4, 2023
This happened with two outs and his team down a run in the bottom of the 9th inning. It's a foolish game-ending play if he's out. Instead, Watson is one of Beloit's heroes of the game. https://t.co/mcH8W915Fn
— Craig Wieczorkiewicz (@MWLtraveler) July 4, 2023
The triple is the most exciting play in baseball IMHO. A swipe of home has got to be right up there. You know you’re gonna get a dude absolutely FLYING in to home as the crowd noise builds & then some version of a hurried delivery & it feels like madness ensues every time! https://t.co/hxp8XbnOBR
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) July 4, 2023
Any straight steal of home is incredibly risky. This one was even more risky than normal, for several reasons.
One is the game situation. If Watson was thrown out, the game was over.
Two, Scalzo a right-handed pitcher. Most steals of home come against left-handers, who have their backs turned to the runner on third. It’s still daring. But if a fast runner can get a few steps before the pitcher notices, he’s got a chance. It’s a lot easier to do that against a Southpaw.
Three, Berry, the switch hitter, was batting left-handed. That gives the catcher a clean look at the runner on third base and gives him a clean lane to make a tag.
Clearly, though, none of that kept Watson from trying — and succeeding. Watson, a first-round draft pick in 2021, is obviously on the Marlins radar. With plays like this, the notice will be even greater.
[Photo and video credit: Beloit Sea Carp]
