Pirates' Ben Gamel made the most spectacular superhero-style diving catch in midair to save a run

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Ben Gamel with perhaps the MLB’s catch of the year!

On Sunday, during the Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Chicago Cubs, Gamel stepped up and delivered a stunning diving catch to save runs from being scored. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, and with men on first and second, Cubs’ Willson Contreras slapped the ball to deep left field for what seemed to surely be an extra-base hit.

Instead, however, the ball hung up just long enough for Gamel to get in range to make a spectacular superhero-like dive to record the out and keep Chicago’s runners from advancing on the play.

BEN GAMEL JUST MADE THE CATCH OF THE YEAR!!! pic.twitter.com/Sag10v9ip8

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 5, 2021

Ben Gamel. As Damn-the-Torpedos, all-in, a catch as I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/RAzfWwqsVy

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 5, 2021

Here’s a freeze-frame of the mid-air moment, for your enjoyment.

Ben Gamel (applause) pic.twitter.com/zo4WFnmbxy

— Joe Block (@joe_block) September 5, 2021

Talk about laying out to make a play! Even though the Pirates gave up their lead later in the inning and eventually lost the game, Gamel’s effort has to be applauded here for an insane diving catch. Bravo!