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In every sport and at every level, coaches tell their players to use their heads. However, Highlands center fielder Jake Shields used his head in a completely different direction and had a moment with Jose Canseco.
In Highland’s 8-4 loss to Butler in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at McDonald Stadium in Kansas, Butler designated hitter Tanay Vyas hit a high ball to right center with a runner on first base with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
Shields ran to play, shielding the sun with his glove and sunglasses, but completely misjudged the ball. Instead of catching the ball, he landed on his head and bounced over the wall for an improbable home run to make the score 3-1.
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Former Oakland Athletics player Jose Canseco speaks to fans as the Athletics inducted him into the team’s Hall of Fame before the game against the San Francisco Giants in Oakland, California on August 17, 2024. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Shields’ error is reminiscent of Jose Canseco’s infamous outfielder’s error in 1988. Carlos Martinez, a designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians, hit a ball toward the warning track in right field.
Canseco, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers at the time, ran toward the wall in an attempt to catch the ball, but missed. The ball hit his head and bounced over the wall for a home run.
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Former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco stands on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on July 21, 2024. (Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports)
Shields was well short of the warning track in the outfield when the ball hit his head, meaning the ball bounced at least 30 feet from his head and over the wall for a two-run home run. The college baseball player leaned down and held his head.
“Oh! Right on his forehead,” the announcer said. “Oh my God, Jake Shields is going to feel like this for a long time.”
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Former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco sits in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on August 17, 2024. (Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports)
The main difference between Shields and Canseco’s errors was how far the ball bounced off their heads. Canseco was right next to the wall, while Shields wasn’t even near the warning track.
Unfortunately for Highland, Shields’ mistake was the start of a tough four-game series against the Butler Grizzlies, as they swept the series.
