LOS ANGELES — On a night of baseball brilliance that will be replayed for years, one fan found himself at the heart of the story, claiming that when the ball flew his way, he already knew it was his.
The scene: Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, smashed his third home run of the game during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series — part of an electric outing that included six shutout innings on the mound and ten strikeouts. The ball soared into the left-field stands at Dodger Stadium. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
Then came the moment. Two-way fan and boxing coach David Flores, 35, was seated in the right place at the right time. He says he sensed it.
“I knew it was going to ricochet off the people in front of me for some reason, my intuition told me that. When it did, I stayed calm… and I just squeezed it like a football, like a baby.” (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
Flores describes the moment with a mix of disbelief and gratitude. “It just landed in my lap because destiny chose for it to land in my lap,” he said. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
But this catch isn’t merely a souvenir; it may become a multi-million-dollar moment. Analysts estimate the ball, tied to one of MLB’s most historic individual performances, could fetch $3 – 5 million at auction. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
Why the Catch Resonates
For many sports fans, catching a home run ball is a lucky happenstance. Here, however, the story leans into something more: a moment of premonition, focus and poise under pressure. As one video shows, the ball traced a textbook arc into the stands — and Flores was ready. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
It’s the kind of moment that not only elevates the fan’s personal narrative but highlights the larger spectacle of sport — when preparation meets luck and the unexpected becomes indelible.
Looking Ahead
Flores says he hasn’t yet decided what he will do with the ball. Will he keep it as a personal legacy? Or may he sell it and turn it into generational wealth? “I'm looking to sell the ball,” he admitted, “to the highest bidder or the highest offer.” (ABC7 Los Angeles)
In the meantime, the moment stands for more than just a catch. It’s a reminder that in sport — and beyond — one instant can define an era.
