The Tale of Two Swings: Taylor Trammell’s Home Run That Wasn’t (And the One That Was)

The Setup: A Night at the Ballpark

Imagine you’re playing baseball in your backyard. You swing as hard as you can, watch the ball sail over the fence, and start your victory lap around the bases. You’re high-fiving imaginary teammates, maybe doing a little dance. Feels pretty great, right?

Now imagine you touch home plate, look up for the cheers… and realize the ball never actually went over the fence. It was caught at the wall. Ouch.

That’s exactly what happened to Houston Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell on Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The “Home Run” That Wasn’t

What Happened Step by Step

1. The Swing: In the 7th inning, with the Astros down 3-0, Trammell crushed a fastball to the deepest part of Daikin Park (formerly known as Minute Maid Park).
2. The Celebration: He was sure it was gone. He touched first, rounded second, hit third, and jogged home. He even pointed to the sky to thank God.
3. The Walk of Shame: He walked back to the dugout expecting high-fives and “atta boys!”
4. The Reality Check: Nobody was there. His teammates weren’t celebrating—because the Blue Jays outfielder had caught the ball at the wall.

Important Point: This wasn’t a case of showing off. Trammell put his head down and ran hard. No bat flip, no admiring the shot—just pure effort. He thought it was a home run because, well, it looked like one.

Why This Was Extra Painful

• Rare Power: Trammell had only 24 home runs in his entire 7-year MLB career before this game. He doesn’t hit them often, so each one matters.
• The Situation: The team was losing 3-0. A three-run homer would have tied the game. The emotional swing from “hero” to “zero” in seconds is brutal.
• The Teammate Dilemma: As the article asks: Do they laugh? Do they comfort him? Do they pretend it never happened? There’s no playbook for this.

The Redemption: “All’s Well That Ends Well”

But baseball loves a comeback story.

The very next night, Trammell stepped up again. This time? He didn’t just think it was gone—it WAS gone.

• Three-run home run
• Cleared the wall
• Counted on the scoreboard

No awkward jog. No confused teammates. Just a pure, undisputed dinger.

Key Takeaways

• Even pros get fooled by the geometry of a ballpark. Deep fly balls look like homers until they’re caught.
• Hustle matters. Trammell ran hard both times—whether he thought it was a homer or not. That’s what coaches love.
• Baseball is a game of failure and redemption. One night you’re the goat; the next, you’re the hero.

Summary

Taylor Trammell thought he hit a game-tying three-run homer on Monday, completed a full home-run trot, and returned to a silent dugout because the ball was caught at the wall. It was an embarrassing, rare mistake—but he responded like a pro. The very next game, he hit a real three-run homer that cleared the fence. A tough moment turned into a perfect bounce-back.

FAQ

Q: What is a “dinger”?
A: Slang for a home run. When the ball leaves the park in fair territory, it’s a dinger.

Q: Why did Trammell think it was a home run?
A: He hit the ball extremely hard to the deepest part of the park. From the batter’s box, it often looks like it’s going out—especially in a hitter-friendly stadium like Daikin Park.

Q: What does “bat-flipping” mean?
A: Tossing the bat dramatically after a home run. Some see it as celebration; others as disrespect. Trammell didn’t do this—he just ran.

Q: How rare is it for a player to be caught at the wall after thinking it’s a homer?
A: It happens a few times a season across MLB. It’s memorable because the contrast between celebration and reality is so stark.

Q: Did the Astros win the next game?
A: The article doesn’t say, but Trammell’s three-run homer definitely helped their cause!

Writer: Zach Dean (OutKick)
Original story: Fox News Sports