Pirates fans collectively modeled the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme when they saw Austin Hedges, of the Texas Rangers, step up to the plate to take his first at bat of the 2023 World Series.

Hedges was coming up to bat at a crucial time in the game. The catcher came into Game 1 of the World Series vs the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth inning. The defense-heavy Hedges was brought in to help solidify the catching position as Texas hoped to rally from 5-3 down to force extra innings.

Texas’ Jon Gray did his job, pitching a scoreless top ninth to put the game in Arizona’s hands to close it out.

But Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald had a miserable night. After walking the leadoff batter, Sewald gave up a one out, two run homer to Cory Seager, whose 418-feet shot tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Rangers fans were sent into a frenzy as the momentum had completely swung towards Texas. After securing a strikeout, Sewald pings batter Adolis García on the elbow, to put him on base. García proceeds to steal second base easily, putting the Rangers a mere hit away from a Game 1 win.

Arizona opts to intentionally walk Mitch Garver, so that Sewald can instead go head to head with Austin Hedges. It ended up being the right bet.

Hedges, who had a season batting average of .184, came up to the plate and proceeds to do what every Pirate, or maybe even baseball fan could have predicted.

On three straight pitches, Hedges swings on all three to earn a strikeout and end the inning. All three pitches were sweepers, all three pitchers were roughly in the same area, and all three pitches were either 84 or 85 miles per hour.

It was his first career World Series at bat, and the first time he even stepped on the field for the Rangers this entire postseason. He had not played since September 29th.

The Hedges strikeout would prevent all out disaster for the Diamondbacks, but Arizona would go on to lose the game in the eleventh inning, when García smacked a ball out past right field to lift the Rangers up 6-5 in Game 1 of the World Series.

Hedges played 65 games for the Pirates in 2023. He staggered along to a .180 batting average and was frequently booed at home games at PNC Park towards the end of his time here.

Fans’ displeasure for constantly seeing Hedges play wasn’t all necessarily directed at him. Pirates fans were eager to see top catching prospects Endy Rodríguez and Henry Davis see time behind the plate instead of a guy who couldn’t hit.

Hedges’ salary, a cool $5 million, also added to his criticism, as a stingy Pirates team was paying top dollar for a player fans watched him struggle at the plate.

After his trade to Texas (for which the Pirates received international bonus pool money), the Rangers used him sparingly, opting to deploy his strengths as a defensive stalwart while also shielding him from ever having to swing a bat. Hedges recorded a mere 24 at bats with the Rangers to close out the regular season.

Hedges may forever be an enemy in this town, but he’s now just three wins away from a World Series ring.

(Featured image by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)