Yankees bullpen catcher headbutts Ben Rice’s grand slam on the fly in hilarious moment against Red Sox

New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice sent Yankee Stadium into an absolute frenzy Tuesday night when he hit a grand slam over the wall to give his club a 9-0 lead in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. The lost moment was where the baseball landed inside the stadium, or in this case, what it hit before falling to the ground.

As it happened, Rice’s grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning was heading directly toward New York’s bullpen in right-center field.

Baseball fans regularly see pitchers hanging out in the bullpen and catching them like they’re pop-ups, which always makes for a cool moment, but what we witnessed Tuesday night was unlike any other.

Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts to second base during the New York Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Playoff Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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As soon as the roar inside the stadium grew louder as he waited for the ball to clear the wall, one of the catchers in the Yankees bullpen stood up, took a few steps to his right, and while it looked like he was going to raise his glove and catch the ball, he instead stopped and let the ball hit him directly over his helmet.

No last-second burst, no movement to soften the blow of the ball hitting him in the mask, just pure commitment from the bullpen receiver.

Aside from Rice hitting a grand slam and going 4-for-5 at the plate to help the Yanks earn a 9-0 victory, the story of Game 1 was the performance of New York starting pitcher Cam Schlittler.

Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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The Massachusetts native dominated on the bump, allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out 10 batters in 6.1 innings of work. New York needed Schlittler, the heavy favorite to win AL Cy Young honors, to come out and put together a performance, and he undoubtedly answered that call.

New York Yankees fans celebrate after a grand slam by designated hitter Ben Rice in the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox faced the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2026 Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning before doubling the lead in the bottom of the fifth and adding two more runs in the seventh before Rice officially put the game away in what was a five-run eighth inning for the home club.

The Red Sox will now be forced to face Max Fried on the mound Wednesday night as they face elimination in the best-of-three series.