Tag: Seby Zavala

Seby Zavala defied physics at Angel Stadium with a home run that shouldn’t be possible

Weird things happen when Seby Zavala is hitting home runs

Seby Zavala is not really what you’d call a power hitter.

The backup catcher for the Chicago White Sox only has 13 home runs in 151 career games, but he does have a penchant for weird things happening when the ball does go far off his bat.

For instance, he became the first player in MLB history to hit his first three home runs in the same game. Zavala has delivered two more multi-home run games since then — and when he is seeing the ball he tends to drive in multiple runs per game — yet what he did on Wednesday night in Anaheim is enough to break your brain in ways only baseball can.

On the second of Zavala’s two home runs (of course he hit two) in Chicago’s 11-5 victory against the Angels, the 29-year-old pulled a ball down the left field line that looked like it was way foul up until the moment in landed in the seats in fair territory. No one in either dugout seemed to understand how it happened.

Zavala even stood in the batters box for about three seconds after making contact thinking he’d have to get ready for the next pitch before he started jogging down the first base line.

The Angels immediately challenged the call, because how could you not? It was quickly upheld, but you need to see the ball’s flight path in order to understand why.

Unfortunately, the graphic will only leave you with more questions.

I have never seen a home run with a flight pattern that looks like an “S”. I’m not sure I will again. In fact, I’m not even sure how this is possible. My best guess here is that a gust of wind caught the ball at just the right moment and pushed it back into fair territory. Beyond that, I’m at a loss.

This home run will haunt me. Just not as much as it’s going to haunt Angels pitcher Andrew Wantz for giving it up.

Mics picked up what a livid Seby Zavala said to Oneil Cruz before benches cleared in Pittsburgh

That explains why benches cleared.

In recent years, Major League Baseball has instituted rules designed to protect both the base runner and catcher from dangerous collisions at the plate. But as we saw on Sunday, even an accidental collision can turn costly and infuriate players.

During the sixth inning between the White Sox and Pirates, Oneil Cruz was thrown out at home as he tried to score on a ground ball to third. Cruz — one of the brightest young players in the game — was hurt on the play. But White Sox catcher Seby Zavala immediately took exception to how Cruz slid into home. Rather than checking on Cruz, Zavala had choice words for the Pirates star.

The broadcast microphones picked up what was said before benches cleared. (Warning: NSFW language)

Zavala said, “(Expletive), what the (expletive) was that?” The teams then had to be separated, but the bench-clearing incident didn’t escalate beyond pushing and shoving.

Obviously, there is serious concern about Cruz, and no player wants to see anyone get hurt. Still, it was easy to see why Zavala was upset. MLB rules require catchers to give the runner a window to the plate, and Zavala did just that, leaving the outside of the plate for Cruz. Yet, Cruz slid inside right towards Zavala.

Zavala even cleared the bat out of the way for Cruz. He wasn’t trying to put Cruz in harm’s way.

Cruz left the game due to the injury, and Zavala was replaced the following inning. No players were ejected from the altercation.

Update: Cruz suffered a fractured ankle on the play. Ugh.