Outfielder Drops Fly Ball From Glove Over Wall - HR Or Catch & Out? Ask CCS

Oklahoma City Dodgers batter Devin Mann hit an unusual home run against the Sacramento River Cats when his fly ball to left-center field was transported over the bullpen wall, courtesy of River Cats center fielder Bryce Johnson, ruled a home run by 1B Umpire Mike Rains. Article: https://www.closecallsports.com/2023/...

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The question of whether the fielder should have been credited with an out (catch) or not rests in the rulebook's definition of the term itself, which may be found both in Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1) ["a batter is out when their fair or foul fly ball is legally caught by a fielder"] as well as the definition of terms glossary.

In sum, this is not a legal catch as the fielder dropped the ball after collision with the wall (the wall CAN cause a drop) and the fielder's release of the ball over the bullpen wall was not voluntary nor intentional.