Jo Adell’s Incredible Defense: Three Home Runs Caught in Exciting Angels Victory
Historic Performance in MLB: Adell’s Three Home-Run Robberies Mark a Milestone
In a groundbreaking display of defensive prowess, Jo Adell of the Los Angeles Angels has reportedly made history by becoming the first player to rob three home runs in a single game. This remarkable feat drew applause from nine-time Gold Glove Award winner Torii Hunter, who called it “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.”
Adell’s standout performance occurred during the Angels’ 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night. The right fielder executed three extraordinary catches, with his final act—a leaping grab while crashing into the seats near the right-field foul pole in the ninth inning—securing the win for his team.
“I’ve never seen three home run robberies in one game, and I’ve never seen a guy on the third one fall into the stands, catch the ball and keep his feet in like he’s a wide receiver,” said Hunter, who serves as a special assistant to the general manager. Watching from the bench, he added, “I was jumping up and down. I almost passed out.”
Adell’s trajectory has changed significantly in recent years. After struggling defensively, he transformed into a Gold Glove finalist in 2024. His first remarkable catch of the night thwarted a solo homer from Cal Raleigh in the first inning, while a nearly identical catch was made against Josh Naylor in the eighth inning.
In the climactic ninth inning, J.P. Crawford’s drive towards the right-field corner prompted Adell to sprint after the ball. He leaped, caught it, and flipped over the low wall, landing in the front row of seats while holding his glove aloft to showcase the catch. A review confirmed his success.
“After the first one, I was pretty fired up,” Adell remarked. “When I got to the second one, which looked identical to the first, I thought, ‘Wow, my routes are on point tonight.’ The third one was just grit. Top of the ninth, you have to get it done. It was crazy.”
Adell explained the mechanics behind his daring catches, stating, “You just get there, then it’s decision-making. The ball was hit high enough to where I could get there. I watched it into my glove, fell over and ended up in somebody’s lap. I don’t know who it was, but it was a softer landing than I expected. The fans were as fired up as me.”
According to Inside Edge, since 2020, Adell has achieved 10 home-run robberies, a total that ties him with Kyle Tucker of the Dodgers for the most in Major League Baseball. In the 2025 season, the leaders in home-run robberies were Jacob Young of the Nationals and Fernando Tatis of the Padres, each notching four.
Hunter encapsulated the intensity of Adell’s final catch: “It was like a movie scene. It was like the music was playing, then he caught the ball, then he went down and we didn’t see him anymore. The music paused, he came up and said, ‘Yeah!’ I started cheering and almost blacked out.”
Having worked closely with Adell on defense for several years, Hunter praised the young player’s mindset: “His impact has been huge. It’s mental when you’re out there—a mindset of going to get the baseball, being aggressive. When you err on the side of being aggressive and trying to make the plays, you’d be surprised at how many plays you make. That’s the mindset Torii had all those years, winning all those Gold Gloves.”
