New York Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez have seen countless home runs at Citi Field over the years, so it really takes something special to leave them in disbelief.
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. did just that on Monday.
Batting in the second inning of the Braves’ Game 1 doubleheader against the Mets, Acuña turned on a 91 mph four-seam fastball from John Curtiss and sent the ball somewhere nobody reasonably expected it to land: the third deck at Citi Field. According to Statcast, the ball traveled a projected 448 feet with an exit velocity of 114.5 mph and a 29-degree launch angle. Simply put, it was crushed.
Look where this Ronald Acuña Jr. HR landed 🤯🤯🤯
Corona Premier / @CoronaUSA pic.twitter.com/HsjNNj4EDU
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 1, 2023
But the reaction from the Mets broadcast was truly telling. They admitted that they couldn’t remember a home run being hit to that part of the ballpark. And really, Statcast might have been selling Acuña a bit short with that 448-foot measurement.
The guy who caught the ball seemed like he didn’t know how to react or what to do either. It looked like he realized he was too high up to throw the baseball back, which made the whole scene funnier.
Even the Braves dugout had to admire the homer.
Acuña to the third deck reactions: pic.twitter.com/ymTpxXE0YI
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) May 1, 2023
MLB fans were also impressed with the majestic home run.
This was how Twitter reacted
the dude who caught the ball is absolutely baffled how it got there https://t.co/zqPcjz3gJ0
— Max J. Rosenthal (@maxjrosenthal) May 1, 2023
He hit that so far homeboy couldn't even throw it back. Had no idea what to do once it hit him that he didn't have the arm for it. https://t.co/NQmY1plWZA
— Andrew Sisson (@arrbeeye) May 1, 2023
The internal strife on the dude's face who caught it… "Should I throw it back? CAN I throw it back??" https://t.co/zzcnhlt7f7
— #LiveLikeLucas (@VegasRebs) May 1, 2023
Is this farther than Galaraga in Joe Robbie https://t.co/EiM4hfgGOp
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) May 1, 2023
That man is in pure disbelief https://t.co/RPFAmrWnVh
— HMDSportsBlogVU (Proud 5.8%er) (@HMDSportsBlogVU) May 1, 2023
Did this get tracked on @LGAairport's radar? https://t.co/07G176Bn2b
— Matt Kosmala (@MattKosmala) May 1, 2023
Save that ball, sir. A future HoFer hit it. https://t.co/uE7V3ZNKmg pic.twitter.com/rQmeJz5RR8
— Harris (@ohkiv) May 1, 2023
saying this went 448 is a lie this went at least 775 feet https://t.co/vC5pRLdRos
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) May 1, 2023
I have never seen a more confused, home-run-ball-having fan. What a nuke. https://t.co/6qpBnOzdlS
— David Kenyon (@Kenyon19_BR) May 1, 2023
