Logan O’Hoppe back at Yankees Stadium years after viral throw
NEW YORK (BVM) – Logan O’Hoppe, the rookie starting catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, is no stranger to Yankees Stadium. Growing up a New York Yankees fan, O’Hoppe, a West Islip native, has had his fair share of happy moments in the ballpark. But, when the Angels visit the Yankees for a three-game stint starting Tuesday, O’Hoppe will have a moment unmatched by any previous encounter.
O’Hoppe will make his first appearance as a professional MLB player at Yankees Stadium during the series, something he will cherish forever. Though the Yankees fan will likely hope for a good game, he will be cheering against the Bronx Bombers for one of the few times in his life.
While this may be the debut of O’Hoppe as an official MLB starter at Yankees Stadium, it will be far from his first memorable experience at the historic ballpark. Before he was a starting MLB catcher, before he was a top prospect, before he was even drafted by an MLB team, O’Hoppe had a viral throw at the stadium when he threw a Manny Machado home run ball he caught back onto the field from his seat during a 2018 contest.
Cool clip from tonight’s Phillies broadcast of prospect Logan O’Hoppe catching a homer at Yankee Stadium and throwing it back two months before the Phillies drafted him. pic.twitter.com/otNepDyPvJ
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) July 20, 2020
The baseball standout even made sure to celebrate the moment on his social media channels.
https://twitter.com/logan_ohoppe/status/982399083477372929
After he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, O’Hoppe had to wait two years until his next Yankees Stadium moment. That came during a July 2020 exhibition between the Phillies and Yankees at the ballpark. During the contest, O’Hoppe was showing his excitement up to and through his only at-bat of the game.
How cool is this? Two years ago, @logan_ohoppe caught a HR ball as a fan at Yankee Stadium.
Last night, he nearly hit a homer of his own as a member of the Phillies. pic.twitter.com/5XLW1npCU4
— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2020
Though he didn’t get a home run, the moment was a special one nonetheless. Now, with three games coming against his hometown Yankees, O’Hoppe will look to add to his list of memorable moments. Whether an Angels supporter, a Yankees backer, or just a baseball viewer, all MLB fans should have their eyes on the West Islip native making his return to a Yankees Stadium that has filled his life with memories.
