Home run robberies in MLB playoffs

The Padres’ outfielder joined a small group of players with something pretty cool on their resume: a home run robbery in the postseason.

Here are some of the best playoff home run robberies in MLB history.

Jurickson Profar, Padres
2024 NLDS Game 2 at LAD

To pretty much everyone at Dodger Stadium, it looked like Mookie Betts had answered the Padres’ first-inning homer in Game 2 with a solo shot of his own. But Profar’s leap into the stands beyond the shallow left-field wall resulted in more than an empty glove. The San Diego outfielder let Betts and the rest of the ballpark celebrate — for a moment. When Profar took the ball out of his glove and threw it back in toward the infield, it was finally clear Profar had in fact robbed Betts of a homer early in the Padres’ 10-2 rout.

Leody Taveras, Rangers
2023 ALCS Game 3 vs. HOU

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez had an incredible postseason at the plate in 2023. And if it weren’t for Taveras, Alvarez’s playoff run would have been even better. The Rangers’ center fielder covered a ton of ground to haul in a 111.1 mph, 416-foot clout from Alvarez with a tremendous leaping grab. Houston got the last laugh in Game 3 (although not the seven-game ALCS), but Taveras’ ridiculous robbery won’t soon be forgotten.

Mookie Betts, Dodgers
2020 NLCS Game 7 vs. ATL

Four years before falling victim to Profar’s robbery in the 2024 NLDS, Betts had the chance to make a highlight-reel snag of his own in a crucial moment. With his Dodgers down 3-2 in the fifth inning of Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS against the Braves at Globe Life Field, Betts timed his leap perfectly at the right-field wall to rob future L.A. teammate Freddie Freeman of a solo homer. The catch proved critical as Cody Bellinger’s home run in the seventh inning gave the Dodgers a one-run win, and they went on to beat the Rays in the 2020 World Series.

Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
2020 NLDS Game 2 vs. SD

As important as Betts’ NLCS catch was, Bellinger made a grab in an even more important situation for the Dodgers earlier in the 2020 postseason. In Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres, Bellinger drifted back to the center-field fence and pulled in a would-be homer from Fernando Tatis Jr. with a perfectly timed jump. Not only was the snag impressive, but it came three innings after Bellinger hit a homer of his own in a 6-5 Dodgers win.

Aaron Judge, Yankees
2017 ALCS Game 7 at HOU

It looked like Yuli Gurriel had put the Astros on the board first in the second inning of Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, but Judge had other plans. The Yankees’ right fielder charged hard toward the fence, leaping with surprising grace for his 6-foot-7 frame to make a perfect snag before crashing into the padded wall — and barely keeping his glove from falling off. The Astros eventually broke through in the fourth en route to a 4-0 win to advance to the World Series, but Judge’s homer-robbing grab remains memorable.

Coco Crisp, Athletics
2012 ALDS Game 3 vs. DET

Trailing two games to none in the ALDS, Crisp took flight for a beautiful grab to rob Prince Fielder and the Tigers early in Game 3. The A’s center fielder soared in the air to reel in Fielder’s deep drive to right-center with his outstretched glove arm, preserving his team’s 1-0 lead. The A’s kept Detroit off the board in a 2-0 victory to force a Game 4 and won again the next day before dropping a decisive fifth game to the eventual AL champion Tigers.

Allen Craig, Cardinals
2011 World Series Game 7 vs. TEX

Craig socked a solo homer in the third inning of the winner-take-all Game 7 of the 2011 Fall Classic and later secured the final out of the Cardinals’ championship run. In between, he found time to steal a solo shot from Nelson Cruz in the sixth inning. Perched in front of the visiting bullpen in left field, Craig expertly timed his jump to bring the baseball down and preserve St. Louis’ 5-2 lead.

Endy Chavez, Mets
2006 NLCS Game 7 vs. STL

Known as one of the greatest catches in postseason history, Chavez’s snag in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS will live forever. In a tie ballgame in the sixth inning, the Mets’ left fielder reached backward over the wall with a huge leap to deny Carlos Beltrán of a go-ahead two-run homer. Oh, yeah — Chavez relayed the ball back to the infield to double off Jim Edmonds at first base, too. Although the Cardinals still won the game and went on to win the World Series, there’s no forgetting Chavez’s incredible grab for New York.

Bernie Williams, Yankees
1996 ALDS Game 3 at TEX

Williams had quite the first inning in Game 3 of the 1996 Division Series against the Rangers in Arlington. After homering off Texas starter Darren Oliver in the top of the first, Williams deprived Rusty Greer of a two-out homer in the bottom of the frame, crashing into the wall in dead center with the baseball in his glove. It proved to be a crucial play in a 3-2 win for the Yankees, who won the next day to advance to the ALCS.

Glenn Braggs, Reds
1990 NLCS Game 6 vs. PIT

One-run game. Ninth inning. Everything on the line. Braggs still made it look easy, reaching up over the right-field wall to deny the Pirates’ Carmelo Martinez on a potential go-ahead homer in Game 6 of the 1990 NLCS. Reds pitcher Randy Myers struck out the next batter, Don Slaught, to send Cincinnati to the World Series — thanks in large part to Braggs’ game-saving grab.

Willie McGee, Cardinals
1982 World Series Game 3 at MIL

McGee personified the 1980s style of baseball with a high batting average, plenty of steals and Gold Glove defense. One of his top plays came in his rookie season in the ’82 World Series, when the speedy center fielder robbed Gorman Thomas in Game 3. It was just one of many phenomenal catches that the three-time Gold Glover made in his career.

Lou Piniella, Yankees
1977 World Series Game 4 at LAD

Before he became one of the most decorated managers in MLB history, Piniella carved out an 18-year career. His final 11 seasons came in Yankee pinstripes, where he made one of his most memorable plays in the Majors. In the fourth game of the 1977 Fall Classic, Piniella made a leaping grab at the left-field wall at Dodger Stadium, robbing Ron Cey of a would-be homer.

Al Gionfriddo, Dodgers
1947 World Series Game 6 at NYY

Robbing a home run at the highest level is already a remarkable feat. Now imagine doing that in the World Series … against Joe DiMaggio at Yankee Stadium. Gionfriddo did just that in Game 6 of the 1947 World Series, which ended in a Dodgers win that forced a Game 7. While the Yankees ultimately held on to win the Fall Classic, Gionfriddo’s home run robbery was nearly a difference-maker in securing a title for the Dodgers.