Meet the Mets pitcher going viral for 'cocky' jumping strikeout celebration
It took Jefry Yan 13 years to make MLB. He's making sure to make his time in the bigs count — and it's stirring up controversy.
Meet Jefry Yan, the Mets reliever who has taken baseball by storm with his acrobatic strikeout celebrations. At 29 years old, Yan made his Major League debut in August 2026, 13 years after signing with the Angels as an international free agent at 16. After a stint as a construction worker and delivery man in Arizona due to Tommy John surgery, Yan signed with the Marlins in 2021 and quickly climbed through the minor leagues.
He spent three years in the Marlins' system before moving to Japan's NPB, where he posted a 5.58 ERA in 30.2 innings. Yan returned to the United States and joined the Rockies before landing with the Mets, where he has excelled. Known for his fastball exceeding 100 mph and difficult-to-read changeup, Yan's signature move is leaping into the air after every strikeout, earning him a viral following.
While some critics have mocked his celebrations, the baseball community has largely embraced Yan's enthusiasm, recognizing it as a genuine expression of joy for the team.
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