The moment is still fresh in Jorge Soler’s memory.
Nov. 2. Game 6 of the World Series between Soler’s Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. Top of the third inning, no score, two runners on base, two outs and a full count.
On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Luis Garcia threw Soler an 83.4 mph cutter that hovered near the heart of the plate. Soler took a hearty swing and watched the ball continue to elevate as it soared into the outfield. He knew it was gone. He dropped hit bat, pointed to his celebrating dugout as the ball carried beyond the left-field wall at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and rounded the bases for his three-run home run.