Jung Hoo Lee’s Viral “Knee Catch” Stuns MLB
It may go down as one of the most unforgettable plays of the season. In a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Tampa Bay Rays, centre fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a catch so unusual, so dazzling, that it instantly went viral — and had fans and teammates alike in disbelief.
With Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz sending a deep drive into the gap, Lee sprinted at full speed to his left. Sliding on his leg in a desperate bid to make the grab, he initially appeared to lose the ball as it ricocheted off his thigh, rolled down his leg, and slipped perilously out of his glove. What happened next looked more like acrobatics than baseball.
Lee managed to trap the ball between his knees, clamping down before calmly scooping it back into his glove. Standing up, he presented the ball to the umpire with a grin, proof of one of the wildest catches anyone had seen.
“It was a funny catch for sure,” Lee laughed afterward. “I did catch it, but it felt like it was dropping down, going under my body starting from the chest. As soon as I felt the ball dropping, I had to squeeze — and in the end, I squeezed it with my calves.”
His teammate Drew Gilbert, watching from a few feet away, could only smile. The play spread across social media within minutes, racking up views and praise from fans around the globe.
A Rising Star in San Francisco
For the Giants, the timing of the highlight-reel grab couldn’t have been better. The 26-year-old South Korean, signed to a six-year, $113 million contract ahead of the 2024 season, has been one of the brightest spots in an otherwise uneven campaign.
After his rookie year was cut short by a shoulder injury, Lee has come back stronger in 2025, showcasing both his defensive wizardry and offensive consistency. Plays like this — equal parts artistry and athleticism — are the reason San Francisco invested so heavily in him.
More Than Just a Highlight
Lee’s knee-first miracle catch helped spark the Giants to a 7–1 victory, snapping a rough stretch at home in which they had won just once in their previous 15 games. The win put them back into the thick of the playoff race, and the mood in the clubhouse reflected the shift.
For the Giants, it was a much-needed boost. For Lee, it was a reminder that even in baseball’s long season, a single play can capture the imagination of the sport.
And for fans, it was confirmation that Jung Hoo Lee is worth every penny — and then some.
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