Kevin Millar — former Boston Red Sox first baseman and current Boston Red Sox broadcaster — might be a psychic.
During the first inning of Monday night's game between the Red Sox and Houston Astros, Millar predicted from the commentary booth that Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall was about to hit a home run against Astros pitcher Cristian Javier. Two pitches later, that home run happened.
Kevin Millar calls Adam Duvall?s home run! pic.twitter.com/vySJ9G2BM4
— Talkin? Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 22, 2023
Here's how it went down. At the top of the first inning, with Red Sox runners on first and third base, and two outs, Duvall was at the dish with a 0-0 count. After Javier missed with a fastball high for ball one, Millar said, "[Duvall] is going deep. This is not a good matchup for Javier. I'm telling you ... Duvall is going deep."
Millar's commentary partner, Dave O'Brien, then said, "Alright, you're a brave man," as Javier threw a slider for a called strike.
One pitch later, Duvall sent a 94 mph fastball soaring over the left field fence.
"WHAT!?" Millar yelled as soon as Duvall made contact.
"Kevin Millar, stick around! Red Sox lead it, 3-0. And Millar called it seconds before it happened!" O'Brien said while Duvall rounded third base.
"I'm telling you, [O'Brien], that's just not a great matchup," Millar said as Duvall reached home plate. "We got a big pull right-handed [hitter] in Adam Duvall ... It was the first inning with two outs, but I had to go out there and do it. It just felt right at that time."
The prediction — and subsequent reaction — by both Millar and O'Brien was truly marvelous. Despite the Red Sox losing the game 9-4, Millar's call of Duvall's shot received a ton of love on social media. One X account posted another Millar prediction from 2004, when the Red Sox were losing three games to zero against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
While talking to reporter Dan Shaughnessy, Millar said, "Don't let us win [game 4] today. We've got [Pedro Martinez] pitching tomorrow, [Curt Schilling] game 6, and game 7 we can have you out there. I'll put you at 2nd base... then we'll be in the World Series."
What happened after that? Boston won four straight games against the Yankees and advanced to the 2004 World Series — which they won.
Either Millar is truly psychic, or he just has a lot of confidence — and good fortune — when talking about the Boston Red Sox.
