Texas A&M-Corpus Christi OF Robbing Grand Slam Is Instant Catch of the Year Candidate

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outfielder Christian Smith-Johnson made the catch of his life Tuesday night.
In the third inning of a rivaly matchup against Texas A&M, the Aggies were looking to pounce with the bases loaded. Texas A&M first baseman Gavin Kash absolutely crushed a pitch to deep right field that looked like it was destined for a grand slam.
But not so fast—Smith-Johnson was standing in the way. The junior outfielder scrambled back to the warning track, leaped over the wall to make the catch and tumbled into the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi bullpen on the other side.
CHRISTIAN SMITH-JOHNSON. ONE OF THE GREATEST CATCHES YOU WILL EVER SEE 🤯#ShakasUp x #SCTop10 x @ESPNAssignDesk x pic.twitter.com/LVLl8pVn8Y
— Islanders Baseball (@IslandersBSB) March 19, 2025
Not skipping a beat, Smith-Johnson hopped back over the fence to hurl the baseball back into the infield.
WHAT A CATCH: Texas A&M Corpus Christi rightfielder Christian Smith-Johnson robbed Aggies Gavin Kash of a grand slam - ends up a sac-fly @IslandersBSB pic.twitter.com/tDgJLxLgD7
— Donna Conrad (@donnaconradTV) March 19, 2025
Full speed, flipping into the bullpen, with the BASES LOADED 😳
— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2025
Christian Smith-Johnson of @IslandersBSB may have made the catch of the year (📽️ : @MorganWeaver_, @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/L8dufyTLzk
What a grab.
Although Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went on to lose to the Aggies 17–6 in seven innings, Smith-Johnson added a clip to his highlight reel for the ages.
Smith-Johnson, a junior from North Richland Hills, Texas, entered the night batting .250 with one double, one triple and seven RBIs in 21 games this season.
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Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.
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