Yan's 'flamboyant' strikeout celebration? It's here to stay
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The arm extension. The hip rotation. The leg kick.
Jefry Yan¡¯s mechanics flow.
And yes, Yan¡¯s elaborate post-punchout celebration is something to behold.
¡°That¡¯s my style of play,¡± said Yan, a left-hander who signed with the Colorado Rockies this winter and is in camp as a Minor League invitee.
¡°I¡¯m electric. I like to have fun. I enjoy baseball.¡±
It shows.
After recording a strikeout, Yan typically leaps into the air, legs spread and dreadlocks flying, and lands in a crouched position at the base of the mound. He then pats the mound and mimics the called strike signal with his left hand in an order that feels right at the time.
¡°It¡¯s been something I¡¯ve been doing ever since I was a kid,¡± said Yan through interpreter Edwin Perez. ¡°It¡¯s nothing I do to offend the other team. Every time I celebrate, I always look in my corner. I look at my guys, my catcher and my side.
¡°I will always want to celebrate every out that I get. I¡¯m just happy to do my job. I¡¯m happy to get outs. It¡¯s something I do to enjoy the game."
Yan has been a bubbly presence in his first Spring Training with the Rockies, although he is no stranger to professional baseball, having spent time in the Minor Leagues with both the Angels and Marlins.
The 28-year-old pitcher spent 2024 with the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Japanese Pacific League, and the Rockies signed him after he posted a 1.71 ERA in 25 appearances with Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League. He credited that success to a continuing trust in his changeup to go with his two- and four-seam fastballs.
With 26 strikeouts in 21 innings last winter, Yan had plenty of opportunity to enjoy his celebration.
¡°Obviously, here in the United States baseball is a little complicated,¡± Yan said. ¡°Sometimes [opponents] will get offended, obviously, with this kind of celebration.
¡°But when they hit a home run against me they are going to celebrate. They are going to have their fun. That¡¯s something I don¡¯t get offended by because they are enjoying the game just like I will. More than anything I am just going to continue to enjoy my celebration, continue having fun when I am out there.¡±
Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings, who crossed paths with Yan while they were both in Miami, is no stranger to Yan¡¯s love for the game.
¡°It is pretty well-documented that he¡¯s going to get excited, so nobody is going to get surprised by it,¡± Stallings said. ¡°He loves playing ball. He¡¯s a good dude.¡±
Yan struck out three, one after using the ABS challenge system, while pitching around a double and a walk in a scoreless inning in the Rockies¡¯ 14-3 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday.
¡°The flamboyance of what he does after a strikeout ¡ that¡¯s who he is,¡± manager Bud Black said.
And who he will continue to be.
Yan added: ¡°Sometimes I want to celebrate inside, but the emotions win.¡±