With a chance to make a tremendous play on a pop up deep into foul territory, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy’s attempt was spurned by a fan making a smooth catch with a glove of his own.
But it wasn’t just any fan inside the Tokyo Dome.
Former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete was donning Los Angeles gear when he casually stuck his glove out and made the catch while Muncy crashed into the stands and just missed on the play.
It looked as though Muncy’s glove was a hair late on a legitimate chance at making the catch and he looked frustrated at the situation.
The lost opportunity for an out didn’t end up burning the Dodgers, who went on to win 6-3 against the Cubs to complete the sweep in MLB’s season-opening Tokyo Series.
Peete spent 15 seasons in the NFL from 1989-2004 after four seasons at USC where, in his senior season, he placed second in Heisman Trophy voting only behind Barry Sanders.
Peete went on to be drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the NFL draft and played for six different teams across a respectable career.
The ex-QB also played baseball at USC as an infielder and was selected in the MLB draft on four different occasions.
Peete was in attendance at Wednesday morning’s Tokyo game with his wife, actress and singer Holly Robinson Peete.
Holly could be seen leaning out of the way of Muncy’s lunge and the incoming fly ball while her 59-year-old husband calmly made the catch.
The couple’s son, RJ, is a clubhouse attendant with the Dodgers.
Highlighted in a 2023 video by the Los Angeles Times, RJ was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three and the 27-year-old has now been working with the Dodgers since he turned 18.
“He’s a joy to be around,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman of RJ. “We start each day when I walk into the clubhouse with a hug.”
Perhaps the Peete family ties with the Dodgers cut Rodney some slack after his catch inconvenienced Muncy.
