Sports

Catch of the Year? Watch Phillies' OF Derek Hill rob Juan Soto of home run

Nairavoice · Jun 27, 2026 · 2 min read

In hindsight, Derek Hill won the game in the first inning, before most fans had settled into their seats at Citi Field Friday.

After a turbulent morning that included the Mets dismissing manager Carlos Mendoza, Juan Soto looked to turn things around in New York. He turned on a 96-mile-per-hour Zack Wheeler fastball and drove it deep to right center. It was 104 mph off the bat and looked like it was going to be a two-run homer.

Hill, however, had other ideas. The center fielder shaded toward the left side of second base and read it early, turned back and ran. Though he never really looked rushed, he flew back and at the track leapt. His elbow cleared the top of the fence and he brought back that potential home run ball.

Starter Zack Wheeler, who began his career with the Mets and hated their constant drama, watched and just laughed. He went on to make it stand up into a 2-1 win for the Phillies.

The Phillies went crazy. Brandon Marsh who had been running over for backup from right field, yanked off his cap and went over to congratulate Hill. Bryce Harper celebrated at first base and Alec Bohm just put his hands on top of his head and stared out in amazement.

It is already a contender for catch of the year.

Wheeler, meanwhile, went seven innings and gave up just one run and four hits, while striking out seven.

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Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.

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Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA’s Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

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Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.

That is just the type of week Hill and the Phillies – and Mets – are having. Wednesday, down to their last out against the Nationals, Hill hit a go-ahead two-run homer in a 5-4 win. Thursday he had another in the ninth. The Phillies acquired him from the White Sox on June 11.

Friday he won the game in the first inning.

The Mets lost their seventh straight game.

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