WATCH: Giants’ Luis Matos robs Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernández

May 16, 2024, 7:43 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Luis Matos #29 of the San Francisco Giants stands in the dugou...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Wins have been hard to come by for the San Francisco Giants, meaning that if the opportunity to save a run presented itself, Luis Matos wouldn’t let it slip through his fingers–or in this case, glove laces.

Matos delivered one of the early MLB plays of the year during the top of the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pulling back a ball from the top of the center field fence that would have been a home run off the bat of Teoscar Hernández.

Instead of landing in the Dodgers’ bullpen and cutting San Francisco’s 2-0 lead in half, the baseball landed in Matos’ glove as the 22-year-old stunned Oracle Park by leaping into the wall to secure the catch.

Matos was checked out by trainers following the play but remained in the game before delivering an insurance run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

MATOS ROBS HERNANDEZ OF A HOMER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/MCgWfHsRwH

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 16, 2024

More on Luis Matos

Matos, who has spent most of the early portion of this season with AAA Sacramento, was called up earlier this week as the Giants navigate an injured list full of regulars.

San Francisco’s roster has been decimated by injuries, with outfielders Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder), and Michael Conforto (hamstring), Blake Snell (adductor), designated hitter Jorge Soler (shoulder), catcher Tom Murphy (knee), and shortstop Nick Ahmed (wrist) out of action.

With injuries piling up, the door has opened for Matos, and the outfielder turned heads with his run-saving play on Wednesday.

“As soon as it came off the bat, I went out with the intention of catching it,” Matos said of his jaw-dropping play following the game. “It was hit pretty far, but luckily, I was able to make the catch.”

The catch caused starting pitcher Logan Webb to raise his hands in celebration, as Matos’ snag kept the reigning Cy Young Award runner-up’s shutout intact.

“He’s a showman, right?” Webb said. “That’s what excites people and excites us. Obviously, he saved us a run today. It was awesome.”

Matos will likely see some extended run in center field as Lee’s return this season is up in the air as he seeks multiple opinions on a shoulder injury that could require surgery. If Matos becomes the everyday centerfielder, it’s plays like Wednesday’s home run robbery that should excite Giants fans about the up-and-coming prospect.