Dodgers fan pulls big switcheroo after catching Padres home run

One Los Angeles Dodgers fan came fully prepared to catch an opposing home run during his team’s Sunday showdown against the San Diego Padres.

Padres slugger Manny Machado opened the top of the 4th by sending a 93-mph fastball into the left-center field stands at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. The solo shot gave the Padres a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers fan who caught Machado’s big fly did what local fans usually do after catching an opposing team’s home run — he threw it back. Except the baseball he threw back onto the field was actually a fake.

The Dodgers fan named Renan pulled off a classic switcheroo after catching Machado’s homer. After securing the ball in his glove, Renan slyly took out another ball from his right pocket and threw that one back.

The ESPN broadcast interviewed Renan about his slick move a half-inning later.

“I got caught. But every ballhawk out here knows to come prepared for a reason like this,” said Renan. “A hated Padre hits a home run. You don’t throw it back, you’re going to get booed mercilessly by the Dodgers faithful.”

Renan said that nobody in the crowd had initially noticed him make the switch. He would have been able to get away with the sleight of hand had it not been for the ESPN cameras.

Renan got off with a much less harrowing experience than the Dodgers fan who caught Shohei Ohtani’s first home run ball this season.

The post Dodgers fan pulls big switcheroo after catching Padres home run appeared first on Larry Brown Sports .