Mets’ Jefry Yan deploys electric celebration after first MLB strikeout in wild scene
Jefry Yan celebrated accordingly after his long-awaited first MLB strikeout.
The Mets’ 29-year-old rookie reliever fanned Guardians pinch-hitter Angel Martínez during his big league debut Wednesday at Progressive Field, then immediately unveiled the wild celebration that made him a viral sensation in the minor leagues.
Yan jumped into the air, kicked his legs apart and landed before emphatically pumping his arms.
After allowing two singles and a walk, the left-hander later struck out Chase DeLauter and got Jo Adell to ground into a force out to finish a scoreless sixth inning.
Yan had promised to bring his trademark celebration with him after the Mets promoted him from Triple-A Syracuse this week.
“I am going to continue to go out there the same way,” Yan said through an interpreter Tuesday. “I am going to go out there with the same type of emotion, the same type of fun — have fun like I am playing a kids’ game, like I always have.”
The moment marked the end of a long journey for Yan, who signed with the Angels as a teenager but underwent Tommy John surgery and was out of professional baseball.
He worked as a roofer and returned to the mound through a men’s league in Arizona and later pitched in the Marlins organization, Japan and the Rockies’ system before joining the Mets.
Yan recorded a 3.24 ERA and 77 strikeouts across 41 2/3 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse this season before finally getting the call up to the majors.
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