New Rockies pitcher goes viral for flashy strikeout celebration
Feb 26, 2025, 9:43 AM
Jefry Yan pitched a scoreless inning of baseball for the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in their 14-3 Cactus League win over the Chicago White Sox but it’s not the flamethrower’s strikeouts that has people talking, it’s what the left-hander does after.
The 28-year-old Dominican jumped for joy, shot down into the splits and forcibly threw his fists into the air after each batter while striking out the side. It’s nothing new for Yan, who showcased this excitement while playing in the Dominican Winter League the past few months. Though wilder than his celebrations is Yan’s path to the Rockies.
Yan was out of affiliated baseball for four years, playing in a regular men’s league in Arizona when the Marlins rediscovered him in 2021. He spent a few seasons in Miami’s system, climbing to Triple-A in 2023 but things didn’t work out. Last season he went to Japan, pitching for the Saitama Seibu Lions where he posed a a 4.89 ERA over 49 appearances. The Rockies signed Yan in December as he tore through his home country’s offseason league, he’d finish with a 1.71 ERA over 25 outings where he struck out 26.
On Tuesday, Yan got the ball for a second time in purple and again pitched a clean frame, which led to all sorts of celebration and the internet loved it.
The Jefry Yan Experience pic.twitter.com/yHbZ5r5rB4
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) February 25, 2025
Spring Training or not, Jefry Yan is just out there having the time of his life. https://t.co/jzq3uRLpvk pic.twitter.com/b3NC5lLnGY
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) February 25, 2025
Rockies pitcher Jefry Yan with 3 strikeouts in the 7th.
He did this after every K. pic.twitter.com/ePtpF3mwcg
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) February 25, 2025
The NFL would flag Jefry Yan for 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for these celebrations pic.twitter.com/iRRAqxjlda
— Blake Street Banter ⚾🌮 (@blakestbanter) February 25, 2025
Jefry Yan is going viral, but LIDOM watchers are well aware of him😈 https://t.co/6ZckGY082b
— Nick’s Picks (@nicksMLBpicks) February 25, 2025
The Rockies are looking to have two left-handers in their bullpen on Opening Day, meaning Yan has a shot to finally break through to the show. The recently signed veteran Scott Alexander is the team’s first option from the left side in relief. Yan is competing for that second spot with former fifth-round pick Evan Justice, who got one game of action last season and Luis Peralta, who was rock solid in 15 outings last summer for the big club at just 23 years old.
