Mookie Betts Traded a Bat to the Fan Who Caught Reds' Rookie TJ Friedl's First Career Home Run
TJ Friedl hit his first career home run on Sunday in his second career at bat after making his MLB debut as a pinch-hitter on Saturday. The Cincinnati Reds' 26-year old rookie hit a solo shot in the 6th inning off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin. That's where things get really cool.
¡@TJFriedl_1 con el primer hit y primer HR de su carrera en @lasmayores!#Rojos pic.twitter.com/OXsaErw01E
— Rojos de Cincinnati (@Rojos) September 19, 2021
Dodgers' outfielder Mookie Betts realized it was Friedl's first career home run so he got the attention of the fan who caught the ball, a Reds fan, and asked for it. The fan obliged and Betts returned in the next inning with a bat. See what happens when everyone just acts cool?
Man, Mookie Betts with an absolute all-timer move just now. Somehow realized that we had just seen TJ Friedl's 1st MLB HR/hit and yelled up to the fan that caught it until he threw it down. Waiting to see what happens, but Mookie indicated he'd bring something for him next inning
— Josh Shortt (@radioclash77) September 19, 2021
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 19, 2021
Mookie Betts brings a bat to the fan who threw TJ Friedl's first HR ball back. Goodness all around. pic.twitter.com/Yd1fo8hEsH
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) September 19, 2021
Michael Diddle of Portsmouth, Ohio, caught the ball from TJ Friedl’s first MLB hit, a home run. Dodgers RF watched the ball, asked for it and told Diddle “I got you.” In the bottom of the 7th, Betts came back with a signed bat pic.twitter.com/wVT8kh9vNX
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) September 19, 2021
This was absolutely unneccessary by Betts, which makes it all the more awesome. Friedl was at Nevada when Betts made his big league debut with the Red Sox, so it's unlikely they have much of a connection, if any at all. Good for Betts and everyone else involved.