Angels Pitcher Takes Hilarious Tumble Trying to Field Ground Ball

Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi went head over heels on this play. | @MLBonFOX

Yusei Kikuchi started the Los Angeles Angels game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Kikuchi pitched five innings, giving up four runs on six hits. When he left the game after the fifth inning, his team trailed, but came back to win 6-5.

Not bad considering how things started for Kikuchi. Sam Haggerty, leading off for the Rangers, hit the ball back to Kikuchi on a 3-2 count in the first at-bat of the game. Kikuchi did not field the ball cleanly and chased after it, tripping over the mound in the process. Kikuchi tumbled and ended up on his knees, sitting feet away from the ball while Haggerty stood safely on second.

Yusei Kikuchi took a tumble trying to make this play 😯 pic.twitter.com/bC6kPQvdhw

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 8, 2025

The next batter to come up, Corey Saeger, also took Kikuchi to a full count before he hit a two-run home run.

430 feet 😳

Corey Seager with a bomb to straightaway center! pic.twitter.com/fg0s2zC5T6

— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2025

That's about as rough of a start as you can have. Two batters, 14 pitches, one home run, two earned runs, one embarassing fall. Going five full innings was downright heroic considering that start.

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