Mariners Fan Graciously Gives Yordan Alvarez the Home Run Ball From His Cycle Game

Alvarez hit for the cycle for the first time in his career Sunday.
Jul 21, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates his double against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning to complete the cycle at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates his double against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning to complete the cycle at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-USA TODAY Sports / John Froschauer-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time in his six-year MLB career, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle.

And the accomplishment was made even more special by a Seattle Mariners fan who, for a moment, put her rooting interests aside following Seattle's 6-4 victory. Mariners fan Amy Franz caught Alvarez's fourth-inning home run ball, which became considerably more valuable to the Astros slugger once he doubled to finish off the cycle later in the eighth inning.

Realizing the significance of the baseball she had, Franz reached out to both the Mariners and the Astros on X, formerly Twitter, asking the clubs for help returning the ball to Alvarez.

"Dear @astros @Mariners I have Yordan Alvarez Home Run Ball," Franz wrote. "It’s worth more to him than me being as he hit for the cycle. Please find a way for me to get it to him."

The story had a good ending, as Franz met up with Alvarez after the game and gave him his home run ball, posing for a photo with the Astros star—and even receiving an autographed ball.

What a classy gesture from Franz, and what a great moment for Alvarez. Alvarez went 4-for-4 with a first-inning single, the round-tripper in the fourth, an RBI triple in the sixth and the double in the eighth.

The Astros slugger has posted a .301/.385/.545 slash line with 20 home runs, 54 RBI and 58 runs scored in 94 games played.


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Tim Capurso

TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.