Friday’s matchup between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Minnesota Golden Gophers featured an absolutely ridiculous catch where Scarlet Knights outfielder Ryan Lasko put his body on the line.
Rutgers led Minnesota 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Minnesota’s Kyle Bork came to the plate.
He roped a line drive deep that had eyes for the center field. It may have even gotten up and over the fence to potentially tie the game. However, Lasko slammed into the center field wall, laying out sideways to make an unbelievable catch to end the inning.
Ryan Lasko just did what every 10 year old at baseball camp dreams of pic.twitter.com/p6kxblhxkd
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 20, 2023
It was an unbelievable effort that most players probably wouldn’t even have attempted to try up against the wall. He didn’t seem affected by slamming into the wall, running into the dugout with his teammates.
Many around the baseball world took to social media to praise him for the wild catch.
Ryan Lasko with a play of the year contender pic.twitter.com/q9aF6XbCoS
— Teddy Cahill (@tedcahill) May 20, 2023
Ryan Lasko… play of the YEAR???
That glove is why he’s bound for the MLB. https://t.co/qJIPn7yYiR
— Alec Crouthamel (@aleccr12) May 20, 2023
This is absolutely ridiculous https://t.co/I9oFZc3dlR
— 2 Thicc Tommy (@tmaguire98) May 20, 2023
Sick#UFam https://t.co/yVkr2IBONu
— Baseball U ® (@BaseballU) May 20, 2023
Oh my🫨🫨 https://t.co/4tI7aMdmaV
— Adam Obirek (@adamobirek) May 20, 2023
Plays like this are exactly why Lasko is a promising prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft. He is listed as the No. 86 prospect in the upcoming draft by MLB.com.
This play maintained the lead for Rutgers. Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knight faithful, it wouldn’t last too long. Minnesota would score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning capped off by an RBI single by Brady Counsell to win the game.
We have no words.
BRADY. COUNSELL. FTW. pic.twitter.com/0kY0d7yvHB
— Minnesota Baseball (@GopherBaseball) May 20, 2023
This made Lasko’s catch largely a non-factor in the end result. Regardless, it will certainly be on his highlight tape for years to come.
[11Point7 on Twitter] Photo Credit: Big Ten Network