Red Sox prospect loses glove, makes catch to get out of bases

WooSox starter Rio Gomez pitches during a game at Polar Park on June 8, 2023 (Katie Morrison-O'Day / MassLive)

Rio Gomez made a catch to remember Thursday night for the Worcester Red Sox in his Polar Park debut.

The Boston Red Sox prospect and son of late ESPN baseball reporter Pedro Gomez loaded the bases in the first inning of the WooSox's game against the Rochester Red Wings. Matt Adames lined an 0-2 pitch right back to Gomez and it looked as if the ball was going right into the pitcher's glove.

The velocity of the comebacker knocked Gomez's glove right off his hand, but some quick reflexes from Gomez made for a highlight-reel bare-handed catch to get out of the jam and keep the game scoreless.

Gomez struck out four batters and gave up two earned runs on five hits across 3 ⅓ innings in Worcester's 5-4 win.

It was Gomez's second Triple-A start, and his mom surprised him by making the trip to Worcester from Arizona.

"It was quite the surprise she was able to pull off," Gomez told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Thursday was Cuban Heritage Night at Polar Park and Gomez was able to honor his late father's heritage.

"It's hard to ask for anymore to get better than that," Gomez told the T&G.

Pedro Gomez, a beloved baseball journalist, died suddenly in February 2021 at 58 years old. Rio Gomez told MassLive's Christopher Smith in March that a bracelet that belonged to his father goes wherever he goes now and keeps it in his back pocket during games.

"It's easy to bring this little piece of him everywhere I go," he told Smith.

Gomez has a 3.52 ERA in two starts for the WooSox with seven strikeouts.

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