Trayce Thompson's home run robbery: Is this the best catch in Classic history?

Trayce Thompson may have just executed the most spectacular catch in the history of the World Baseball Classic.

The British outfielder, during today's game against the United States at Houston's Minute Maid Park, leaped high at the right-field wall and snatched Will Smith's would-be home run ball with a one-handed grab. When Thompson landed, initially no one could be sure if he had caught it. But as he sat on the ground facing the wall and finally pulled the ball from his glove, raising it high overhead, the entire stadium was stunned. British starting pitcher Tyler Viza, seeing the ball in Thompson's hand, raised his arms in disbelief.

This scene recalls several famous home run robberies in Classic history: Randy Arozarena's stylish catch for Mexico against Japan in 2023, and of course Adam Jones' classic 2017 robbery of Manny Machado and the Dominican Republic, the most famous catch in Classic history. Jones himself posted praise for Thompson's highlight play on social media Saturday night.

As the younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson, Trayce Thompson is no stranger to delivering dramatic moments against the United States in the Classic. In 2023, when Britain faced the U.S., Thompson hit a home run off Adam Wainwright to open the scoring for his team.