Heroic ten-year-old leaps to save younger siblings by catching home run ball hurtling towards them - while his cowardly parents run for cover

  • Jeremiah Sprague, 10, made impressive catch at Tampa Bay Rays game
  • Caught home run ball hit by Asdrubal Cabrera, hurtling towards his sister
  • Reached out and grabbed ball at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida
  • Jeremiah's parents covered their eyes with their hands as ball flew in 

By Kieran Corcoran For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:21 EST, 26 June 2015 | Updated: 01:54 EST, 26 June 2015

This is the moment a ten-year-old baseball enthusiast saves his younger brother and sister by snatching a home-run ball from the air as it hurtled towards them.

Jeremiah Sprague was in the crowd for a Tampa Bay Rays game when he saw the ball flying through mid-air towards his seat.

Unlike his parents - who covered their faces and leaned away from the projectile - Sprague's first thought was to grab the ball, and he caught it inches away from the heads of his little brother and sister.

Catch! Jeremiah Sprague, 10, is pictured above catching a home run ball hit by one of the Tampa Bay Rays in St Petersburg, Florida, on Tuesday night

Catch! Jeremiah Sprague, 10, is pictured above catching a home run ball hit by one of the Tampa Bay Rays in St Petersburg, Florida, on Tuesday night

Winner: Jeremiah said he was 'proud of himself' when he caught the ball - which was hurtling towards his sister's face

Winner: Jeremiah said he was 'proud of himself' when he caught the ball - which was hurtling towards his sister's face

Jeremiah grabbed the ball, hit by Asdrubal Cabrera, before it had a chance to get any closer to Abbie, five, or Luke, two, at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.

According to local news station WTSP, Jeremiah later said: 'I'm surprised I even caught that because it came down really fast. I'm just proud of myself because this is my first time catching a homerun ball.'

Daniel and Hannah Sprague, Jeremiah's parents, were quick to praise their son after he made the catch - and said they ducked away from instinct.

Celebration: Jeremiah's dad, Daniel, is pictured above going for a high-five after the catch. When the ball came down he was covering his face

Celebration: Jeremiah's dad, Daniel, is pictured above going for a high-five after the catch. When the ball came down he was covering his face

Salvation: Abbie, two, (left with dad Daniel) could have been hit by the speeding projectile.

Salvation: Abbie, two, (left with dad Daniel) could have been hit by the speeding projectile.

Keepsake: Pictured is the ball Jeremiah caught - complete with a signature by Asdrubal Cabrera

Keepsake: Pictured is the ball Jeremiah caught - complete with a signature by Asdrubal Cabrera

Mrs Sprague told WTSP: 'We knew it was going to hit really close but it was just that instinct to protect yourself.'

After the home run, which helped propel the Rays to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Cabera signed the ball for Jeremiah. 

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