Being an MLB catcher is one of the scariest positions to play in sports. Pitchers are throwing balls that can reach speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour directly at you and all you have to protect yourself is a baseball glove, a helmet, and some chest/leg padding.
San Francisco Giants broadcast Mike Krukow put it perfectly after seeing catcher Blake Sabol take a foul-tipped ball below the belt:
"Got a bit of a break. It was a little high. So, that explains how he could get up so quickly…I don't wanna be a catcher."
Mike Krukow succinctly details the perils of being a catcher after Blake Sabol takes a foul ball below the belt. pic.twitter.com/P835cevDTR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 12, 2023
“I don’t wanna be a catcher,” said Krukow. Cleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw hit a foul ball off a 96-mile-per-hour fastball that landed in the groin area of Sabol. After a brief moment of agonizing pain, Sabol was able to get up under his own power and shake it off.
Sabol gave his pitcher Camilo Doval a thumbs-up and continued to play on once he realized he was okay.
The Giants defeated the Guardians 5-4 in an important late-season victory to keep their postseason hopes alive. With a 74-70 record, the Giants trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 13.5 games for first place in the National League West and the Arizona Diamondbacks by 1.5 games for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
With only 18 games remaining, time is of the essence for the Giants if they want to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
