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.
Did Seby Zavala just defy the laws of physics? 😱 pic.twitter.com/JWMkMnx4J7
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 29, 2023
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.
⚾Seby Zavala! HR (6, 2nd of the game)
You can put it on the board … yes! 🧦6/28/23 @ LAA, ⬆️ 5th
vs RHP Andrew Wantz99.7 MPH / 46° / 364 ft to LF
Off a 94.0 MPH four-seam fb▶️It's a home run in 30/30 parks.◀️
See this play in Gameday: https://t.co/YA1Jrc16Gn pic.twitter.com/xHqlvbPxcS
— Home Run Report (@homerunreport) June 29, 2023
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.
