Jefry Yan's signature strikeout celebration has become a social media sensation among New York Mets fans, but it almost backfired during his major league debut at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.
In the top of the ninth inning with an 0-2 count and two outs against the Washington Nationals, Yan thought he had struck out Nasim Nuñez to end the frame. He launched into his usual acrobatic celebration, complete with a mid-air jump and hat-tapping gesture, but the home plate umpire did not call strike three. Instead, the umpire signaled a ball, prompting an ABS review.
Yan quickly realized his mistake as he touched back down on the mound, forcing him to tap the top of his hat to challenge the ball. However, after review, the umpire's original call stood, leaving Yan to laugh off the momentary lapse in judgment. Two pitches later, Yan got Nuñez to strike out on a slider, and this time he was able to celebrate properly.
The Mets would go on to win the game in thrilling fashion, with Francisco Lindor singling home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The victory marked Yan's first career win in MLB, coming after he pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings for the Mets.
Yan, a 29-year-old rookie who began the year in the minors, has made quite an impression with his unique celebration and impressive pitching performance so far this season. He owns a 1.80 ERA through his first five appearances for New York and was thrilled to have made his Citi Field debut in front of the Mets faithful.
In a post-game interview, Yan expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the home crowd, saying "I felt really welcome today" through a translator.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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