Michael Kay’s signature home run call has become a staple on New York Yankees broadcasts over the years. Unfortunately for Yankee fans, the lone home run call from Kay in Friday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays was all for naught after Jose Caballero stole the show with an early candidate for Catch of the Year in the 2025 MLB season. The matchup was a classic pitcher’s duel, with both Yankees starter Carlos Rodon and Rays starter Drew Rasmussen delivering quality starts, allowing only one run between them.
In the top of the eighth inning, Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice nearly opened the floodgates, lacing a line drive to right field that looked destined to leave the park. However, Caballero had other plans, leaping up and robbing Rice of a home run, effectively ruining Michael Kay’s patented home run call, which he had already begun as Caballero made the catch. “Deep to right field off the bat of Rice,” said Kay. “There it goes… He makes the catch. Let’s see if they double him up. And he gets back in time. What a catch by Caballero! It was out, and he makes the leap and takes the home run away.”
Ridiculous home run robbery by Jose Caballero!
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay thought this was gone until it wasn’t pic.twitter.com/mvdpC8Gi1V
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 19, 2025
Naturally, Yankees fans took to social media to give Kay some flack for his miscalculation. Comments such as “Michael Kay has zero gauge on where balls are going tonight” and “How many times has Michael Kay actually been fooled?” reflect their frustrations. Others pointed out that Kay had a moment reminiscent of John Sterling when he thought the ball was gone.
Michael Kay pulled off a John Sterling thinking it was gone
— 2025 NY Yankees Fan (@brianspeaksnow) April 19, 2025
This isn’t the first time that Michael Kay has prematurely given his “There it goes” call on a hit that didn’t end up leaving the park, and to be fair, Rice’s hit would have gone out had Caballero not made the spectacular catch. Still, the error was particularly painful for Yankees fans, considering how lackluster the Yankees’ offense was throughout the game. Rice’s home run would have provided much-needed insurance heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.
Fortunately, the Yankees wouldn’t need Rice’s home run anyway, as the bullpen kept the shutout intact en route to a 1-0 victory, marking the team’s fifth consecutive win.
