Top 100 prospect Arroyo drills walk-off homer -- complete with EPIC bat flip
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The Mariners' High-A affiliate hosted Education Day at Funko Field on Thursday afternoon, packing the Everett AquaSox park with youngsters. While classroom subjects got much love, those in attendance also got to experience a one-of-a-kind tutorial in Bat Flip 101 with Seattle prospect Michael Arroyo serving as the professor.
After a seesaw contest with Vancouver, which included Blue Jays prospects slugging a pair of homers in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 3, MLB's No. 94 prospect led off the bottom of the frame. Right-hander Chay Yeager's first pitch went for a ball, but the second went into orbit.
And then so did Arroyo¡¯s bat.
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¡°Every time you play in a full stadium, it¡¯s always fun,¡± Arroyo said in Spanish in the postgame interview following the 4-3 victory. ¡°Especially today with all those kids, just trying to lead by example and just be a figure for the kids. I enjoyed the entire day.¡±
The epic bat flip by the Mariners' No. 7 prospect came days after Andy Lugo (Red Sox) delivered his own take on an emphatic celebration in the Minors.
The 20-year-old Arroyo has emerged over the past year as one of baseball¡¯s most power-packed middle-infield prospects. He tore through two levels of Class A ball last season, hitting 23 homers and leading all Seattle's full-season prospects with a 146 wRC+. He returned home to star in the Colombian Winter League this offseason, while also helping his homeland qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
He¡¯s part of a dynamic Everett lineup that includes fellow Top 100 overall prospects Colt Emerson (SEA No. 1/MLB No. 19) and Lazaro Montes (SEA No. 2/MLB No. 39), along with the 30th pick in the 2023 Draft, Tai Peete (SEA No. 12). Not to mention, switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (SEA No. 9), who has become the buzz of Minor League Baseball as his pro career gets underway.
Rounding the bases, a visibly amped Arroyo looked toward home plate, ebullient at getting to celebrate with that collection of top-tier teammates. As he jumped into the dogpile, he knew what awaited -- or so he thought.
¡°I was expecting the water to be over my head," Arroyo said, laughing, "but they threw it on my shoes."
When you bring the heat with the bat -- and the bat flip -- it takes unconventional measures to be cooled off.