Fan traded the ball John Rave hit for 1st MLB homer for ton of Royals memorabilia
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Rookie John Rave hit his first two MLB home runs in a game against the Marlins.
- A first-time fan from Italy caught the milestone ball and traded it to the Royals.
- The fan received signed memorabilia and met Rave after the game at LoanDepot Park.
As batting practice was winding down before a game against the Pirates last week at Kauffman Stadium, rookie outfielder John Rave sat in the Royals’ dugout and talked about his plans for the All-Star break.
Not happy with the way he’d struggled early in his major-league career, Rave — called up to Kansas City for the first time on May 26 — said he was going to the Driveline location in Tampa, Florida to work on his swing. Plus, the Illinois native noted, it would be good to see the ocean with his wife, Amy.
After that, Rave planned to make the trip to Miami, where the Royals would be starting the second half of the MLB season.
Whatever tweaks Rave made at Driveline paid off Friday, as he hit the first two home runs of his major-league career in the Royals’ 8-7 loss to the Marlins in 10 innings.
“I mean, winning is kind of the most important part, but it was a pretty cool day for me at the plate,” he told reporters after the game on FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City. “I found a couple of barrels and felt good.”
MLB players want to keep mementos of their achievements, but Rave hit his first home run on the road. Fortunately, he was able to get the ball back.
Fan Duel Sports’ Craig Mish found the person who caught Rave’s home run at LoanDepot Park. It was a fan from Italy who was attending a baseball game for the first time.
The Royals said that fan received a treasure trove of memorabilia: four autographed baseballs, four autographed caps and a baseball bat. And the fan and a friend also got to meet Rave after the game.
It was a small price to pay for Rave, the former Illinois State star, who is sure to display that baseball prominently in his home.
This story was originally published July 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Fan traded the ball John Rave hit for 1st MLB homer for ton of Royals memorabilia."
