This week, we have bats dropping like flies, and pitchers hanging their heads as they get taken for a ride out to the parking lot. It’s another glamourous week of baseball, and I’m here with another fresh batch of bat flips, drops, throws, and everything in between. Don’t forget to let me know how you would have ranked the week’s offerings in the comments below and on Twitter! Now sit back, relax, and watch the fireworks.
Here are the most explosive bat flips of MLB’s tenth week!
6. Justin Upton vs. Robert Dugger
https://gfycat.com/chillyperkygermanspitz
6/4/2021 — SEA @ LAA
401ft, 101.8 mph, 29° LA
Justin Upton’s bat drops seem to be in midseason form as the outfielder continues to bash the seams off of the ball, this time in the form of a deep drive into the visitor’s bullpen. Upton looks to have regained some of his pre-2019 form this year, with a 127 wRC+ and 14 home runs in 56 games. With the return of his power, Upton has incorporated some downright dirty bat drops into his routine, getting a slight rotation as he drops his bat like a hot skillet.
Style: 8
Speed: 1.5s
Bullpen Catcher: On it
5. Nelson Cruz vs. Aroldis Chapman
https://gfycat.com/tornunawaregenet
6/10/2021 — NYY @ MIN
457ft, 112.4 mph, 23° LA
Nelson Cruz sent everyone home on time with this moonshot to walk off Aroldis Chapman and the Yankees. It was an absolute blast turning on a 99 mph heater, and even Gary Sánchez hung his head and walked off the field seconds after contact. Cruz, meanwhile, hopped, skipped, and jumped around the bases, giving his bat a ride and pounding his chest as he headed home. It was the Twins’ first walk-off against New York since 2014, and could mark a turning point in the season if the team is able to dig themselves out of their hole in the AL Central and make a playoff push.
Style: 8
Rotation: 120º
Steps before flip: 7
4. Christian Arroyo vs. Brandon Bielak
https://gfycat.com/disastrouscoldalbatross
6/10/2021 — HOU @ BOS
437ft, 105.8 mph, 29° LA
Christian Arroyo crushed a hanging slider from the Astros’ Brandon Bielak last week, tying up the game with a drive over the Monster and into the Boston night. It was a no-doubt missile off of the bat, and Arroyo immediately went into bat flip mode, flicking his bat away with a flourish. Bravo.
Style: 8
Rotation: 270°
The Monster: Tamed
3. Edmundo Sosa vs. Luis Castillo
https://gfycat.com/flawedentirecorydorascatfish
6/4/2021 — CIN @ STL
419ft, 102.4 mph, 28° LA
Edmundo Sosa might just have one home run on the back of his baseball card, but he looked like a seasoned veteran with this thunderous bat drop against the Reds’ Luis Castillo. It was a moment years in the making for Sosa, and he made the most of it as he took a second to admire the blast as it found its home just inside the left foul pole. He even got a curtain call from the St. Louis faithful, which was the cherry on top of a memorable night for the young infielder.
Style: 8
Drop: Instantaneous
Curtain Call: 8
2. Jazz Chisholm Jr. vs. Chi Chi González
https://gfycat.com/faroffjovialcardinal
6/10/2021 — MIA @ COL
431ft, 108.8 mph, 27° LA
Jazz Chisholm Jr. just radiates cool. Whether it’s sporting a Gatorade-blue haircut, making unbelievable plays in the infield, or absolutely crushing taters like this one against the Rockies, he always looks like he’s having the time of his life (which checks out, seeing as he’s paid to play baseball in Miami). This bat drop followed a big home run into the upper deck of loanDepot park (really, that’s what we’re going with Miami?), and put the Marlins ahead by a sizable lead early in the contest, one that they ultimately hung on to by the end of the night. Jazz’s post-homer celebration was another suitable addition to his growing highlight reel, as he holds onto his bat long enough just to spike it in the dirt. Well done.
Style: 9
Rotation: 90º
Effervescence: 9.5
1. Gleyber Torres vs. Eduardo Rodríguez
https://gfycat.com/gargantuanslightboa
6/4/2021 — BOS @ NYY
418ft, 104.7 mph, 30° LA
Gleyber Torres struck another blow in the endless struggle between the Red Sox and Yankees with this two-run drive at the expense of Eduardo Rodríguez. He then gave us an iconic bat flip, which is made even better with the context it came in a relatively low leverage situation in the fourth inning. But, then again, when you absolutely demolish a ball like this, nothing is off the table. An absolutely ruthless flip befitting a ruthless home run.
Style: 9
Rotation: A lot.
Strut: 9
Photo by Dustin Ian D’Andrea/Flickr | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)
good to see Chisholm getting his due on this one so far.
Gary Sanchez, top of the 7th, 6/16 deserves consideration for the next installment.
Disdainful, underhanded, non-rotating flick that has a bit of both a drop and a flip feeling.