The 2025 MLB season has been full of highlight-reel defensive plays. Some of the most talked-about plays have come in the outfield. So here is a look at the seven most spectacular catches in the outfield this season…so far.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee has made several great catches this season. Perhaps his most talked-about catch, though, came on Sunday, August 17, at Oracle Park against the Tampa Bay Rays. Leading off the top of the fourth inning, Ray’s designated hitter, Yandy Diaz, drove a ball into deep right-center field. Lee and right fielder Drew Gilbert converged, and Lee made a sliding catch…almost. The ball dribbled out of his glove, bounced off his thigh, and rolled down Lee’s left leg. There, he pinned it between his legs just below his knees for the out.
Giants’ announcers hailed the play as the “Catch of the Decade.” It was definitely highlight reel material, but the only reason it ended up going viral is that Lee dropped the ball initially. If he catches the ball cleanly with his glove, he would not have made the list at all. It was a great save, but for that reason, Lee only makes Number Seven on the list. Here is the play.
On April 29, Toronto Blue Jays‘ center fielder Daulton Varsho made a catch that baseball fans are still talking about. In the fourth inning of a blowout Boston Red Sox win, Jarren Duran hit a flyball to deep center field. As Varsho ran back on the ball, he tripped and tumbled to the ground. Varsho had been looking back over his right shoulder before he realized the ball was going to be on his left side. As he tried to readjust under the ball, he lost his footing and went down on the warning track. Amazingly, though, he had the presence of mind and focus to keep tracking the ball and make the grab on one knee behind his back.
Like Lee’s catch above, it was a great recovery from an initial misplay. For that reason, Varsho comes in at Number Six on this list. Here is a look at the play.
On April 5, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came to bat with two outs in the top of the first inning of a game between his Arizona Diamondbacks and the Washington Nationals. Gurriel Jr. hit a drive deep to left field that Nationals’ left fielder James Wood snagged at the top of the outfield wall. The running grab robbed Gurriel Jr. of a homer, and Washington went on to win the game by one run, 4-3. Here is a look at the grab.
Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ has made a lot of diving catches this season, but this one was by far the best. His catch took place on the same day that Wood’s robbed Gurriel Jr. Happ laid out to make a diving catch of a sinking liner down the left field line off the bat of Gavin Sheets in the seventh inning. Happ rolled into the wall in foul territory afterward, but was uninjured on the play. The Cubs went on to win 7-1 over the visiting San Diego Padres. Here is a look at the electrifying play.
On March 29, the Miami Marlins hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates in each team’s third game of the young season. With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski hit a deep drive to left field. Miami’s Griffin Conine made a great running, jumping catch at the wall to pull back what would have been a game-winning home run. The Marlins would go on to win the game 5-4 in 12 innings. Here is a look at the game-saving grab.
The Miami Marlins earn a second spot on the list with a catch by center fielder Dane Myers. On April 9, the Marlins faced the New York Mets at Citi Field. With the Marlins up 5-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Myers made a spectacular catch on a drive by Mets slugger Pete Alonso. Myers crashed headlong into the wall but hung on to secure the game’s final out. Luckily, Myers walked away unscathed. Here is the play.
While Myers escaped injury from his catch, Seattle Mariners right fielder Victor Robles was not so lucky. The Mariners were facing the Giants at Oracle Field in San Francisco. In the bottom of the ninth, Giants’ catcher Patrick Bailey hit a fly ball down the right field line. Robles made a miraculous, but dangerous catch, crashing into the stands. He bounced off the screen beyond the wall and fell back onto the field. The runner on first, Luis Matos, tagged and went to second on the play. Robles sustained a dislocated shoulder and had to leave the game.
It was an incredible, but costly play for both Robles and Seattle. The Mariners moved Miles Mastrobuoni from third base to right field, and the next batter, Wilmer Flores, hit a single to right. Mastrobuoni was unable to throw out Matos at home plate, and the Giants scored a walk-off victory, 5-4. Robles has been on the injured list ever since. Here is a look at the unbelievable catch.
I pored through hundreds of catches to get to these seven. The 2025 season has been full of dynamic plays in the outfield, but these seven stand out for their uniqueness and degree of difficulty. I can see where some would argue that Lee’s and Varsho’s catches should have ranked higher, but as I said above, their catches were the result of their own mistakes. In the end, they were all unbelievable.
What stood out the most for me on the top two catches was the win-at-all-costs, reckless abandon with which they were made. For good or for bad, one doesn’t always see that kind of commitment to making a play for your team. In Robles’ case, his catch was a potential game-saver, depending on whether that ball ended up fair or foul. Unfortunately for the Mariners, he was only able to stave off defeat until the next batter, and his catch cost him months on the IL. On a positive note, though, Robles is almost done rehabbing in the minors and should be back with the Mariners soon.
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