Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman on Saturday submitted his late-season bid for Catch of the Year against the San Diego Padres at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill.
San Diego Padres batter Freddy Fermin fouled off a low sweeper toward foul ground in right field. With runners on first and second, Tauchman had no plans of giving up on the play, especially with two outs in the top of the sixth inning.
The White Sox veteran tracked the ball all the way toward the railing in foul ground. Unable to stop his momentum, Tauchman threw his entire body into the netting to make the play. He fell into the second row and thrilled fans in the process to end the inning.
Mike Tauchman leaps into the net to make an outrageous play 😮 pic.twitter.com/YfLmVwcLmP
— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025
Tauchman also made a diving catch in the third inning to double up Fermin at first base. Internet sleuths may need to check if Mike has a personal vendetta against the Padres catcher.
MIKE TAUCHMAN 9-3 DOUBLE PLAY 🍿
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) September 20, 2025
TOO SMOOTH. pic.twitter.com/0ezAMLUPuA
Tauchman has been a relatively average player during his eight-year MLB career. However, the man sure has some serious highs and lows throughout that span.
This season alone has been quite the roller coaster for the White Sox outfielder. In an April contest against the Cleveland Guardians, Tauchman failed to score the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning when he hurt his hamstring as he sprinted toward home plate. He redeemed himself three months later when he walked off the same Guardians with a swinging bunt.
Tauchman is arguably most famous for robbing Albert Pujols of a walk-off home run back in 2021. Mike may just barely be an above-replacement player, but the man sure has quite the highlight reel.
