NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
In every sport and at every level, coaches tell their players to use their heads. However, Highland center fielder Jake Shields used his head in a completely different sense and had a José Canseco moment.
In Highland’s 8-4 loss to Butler in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at McDonald Stadium in Kansas, Butler designated hitter Tanay Vyas hit a fly ball to right-center field with a runner on first base with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
Shields ran to make the play, shielding himself from the sun with his glove and sunglasses, but misjudged the ball. Instead of catching the fly ball, it landed on his head and bounced off the wall for an improbable home run that made the score 3-1.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Former Oakland Athletics player Jose Canseco speaks to fans as the A’s inducted him into the team’s Hall of Fame before the game against the San Francisco Giants in Oakland, California, on August 17, 2024. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Shields’ error was reminiscent of outfielder José Canseco’s infamous error in 1988. Cleveland Indians designated hitter Carlos Martínez hit a fly ball toward the warning track in right field.
Canseco, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers at the time, ran toward the wall to try to catch the ball, but missed. The ball hit his head and bounced over the wall for a home run.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND MAYOR BOOSED AT RED SOX HOME OPENING
Former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco stands on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on July 21, 2024. (Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports)
Shields was well below the warning track in the outfield when the ball hit his head, meaning the ball bounced at least 30 feet from his head and over the wall for a two-run home run. The college baseball player leaned over and held his head.
“Oh! Right on his forehead,” the announcer said. “Oh, Jake Shields is going to feel that for a long time.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco sits in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on August 17, 2024. (Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports)
The main difference between Shields and Canseco’s errors was the distance the ball bounced off their heads. Canseco was right next to the wall, while Shields wasn’t even close to the warning track.
Unfortunately for Highland, Shields’ mistake was the start of a tough four-game series against the Butler Grizzlies, who swept the series.
