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ESPN staff
Football has touchdown dances. Basketball means mugging after a dunk. Soccer players slide across the grass as their teammates pile on top of them.
Baseball? Baseball has a bat flip.
Long considered a faux pas in the game, the bat flip is having a bit of a moment as baseball focuses more on fun. It’s almost an art form in South Korea, where players take pride in their individual bat flip routines, and the World Baseball Classic gives those players — and those from other countries who take part in good times — a chance to strut their stuff.
Here are some of the best bat flips we’ve seen so far in the 2023 tournament.
March 15
Juan Soto — Dominican Republic
Juan Soto: El Colosso de República Dominicana. 🇩🇴#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/0z6C9YVPvS
— LasMayores (@LasMayores) March 16, 2023
March 13
Kunwoo Park – South Korea
Kunwoo Park turned it around like he knew ✌️
Team Korea put up 18 runs in 4 innings! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/YthqG2271B
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
March 12
Joey Meneses – Mexico
JOEY MENESES WILL NOT STOP. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/MZIu4jqMwb
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
March 11th
Anthony Santander – Venezuela
In the second inning against the Dominican Republic, Santander, playing for Baltimore Oriolesbroken by the ball from Sandy Alcantarawho pitched for Miami Marlins, 393 feet for a home run. Santander showed his excitement with a bat flip and an animated celebration as he rounded the bases.
The second deck received a souvenir courtesy of Anthony Santander. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/s9KqI3KAkL
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2023