After throwing a strikeout, Mets reliever Jefry Yan leaps in the air, kicks out his legs, and then does the splits.
Fittingly enough, the New York rookie’s wild, viral celebration has split opinions among baseball fans online, raising the question: Is Yan just having some fun or is this routine going overboard?
The 29-year-old lefty made his MLB debut for the Mets on Wednesday night against the Guardians in Cleveland. After striking out the first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Angel Martinez, Yan performed the celebration that had made him an Internet sensation during his time in the minors.
When MLB’s official X account posted video of Yan’s first career strikeout, the clip quickly went viral and has since racked up more than 3.9 million views.
But not everyone was as happy as Yan about the scene.
What was the reaction online?
“Bro got one strikeout and is jumping?” one user replied.
“Guys like Pedro Martinez would have straightened out Yan if pitchers still batted,” another wrote, one of many noting that they didn’t think Yan would do the celebration if he had to step up to the plate himself.
“Brian McCann would have been arrested for attempted homicide if this ever happened to him,” a third user posted.
Many also felt that the celly was indicative of the increasing popularity of the Savannah Bananas, a barnstorming team that plays an upbeat ‘Harlem Globetrotters’ style of baseball known as “Banana Ball.”
Of course, many fans saw the lighter side of a player simply having some fun playing the game.
“Sports are intended to be fun and entertaining, Jefry Yan is fun. Bat flips and pimping home runs is fun,” one user wrote, adding “it’s a new generation, we should embrace it, not fight it.”
“If a batter can act like a clown when he hits a home run then a pitcher should be allowed to do the same thing when he gets a strike out,” another posted.
“The only man I want to dominate against my team,” a third wrote.
The jokes were flowing on social media, too.
“Imagine if he loses an ABS challenge and has to take it back,” one user wrote on X, adding a video of Yan’s celebration in reverse.
“Honestly can’t wait til someone absolutely showboats a crushed dinger off him,” another wrote.
Even the Guardians got in a few laughs, with all-star third baseman Jose Ramirez appearing to mock Yan’s celebration in the dugout.
How did Yan and the Mets do in his debut?
In his debut, Yan pitched one inning, giving up two hits and a walk to load the bases before getting out of the jam with another strikeout and a grounder to short.
He was credited with a hold as the Mets went on to win 6-5 in 10 innings.