Jefry Yan marked a milestone with a jubilant celebration following his eagerly anticipated first MLB strikeout.
The 29-year-old rookie reliever for the Mets experienced a big moment during his major league debut against the Guardians at Progressive Field. Facing pinch-hitter Angel Martínez, Yan struck him out, unfurling the exuberant celebration that had already made him a minor league internet star.
In an electrifying display, Yan leaped into the air, spread his legs apart mid-air, then landed with an energetic arm pump that left fans talking.
Despite yielding two singles and a walk, the left-handed pitcher later managed to strike out Chase DeLauter and forced Jo Adell to ground into a force out, successfully completing a scoreless sixth inning.
Yan had pledged to bring his signature celebration to the big leagues after the Mets called him up from Triple-A Syracuse this week, and he certainly delivered.
“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.