If we’re being honest, it’s been quite a challenge to keep up with the best bat flips from around the league each week, let alone rank them. That’s why I’m turning to the wonderful Pitcher List community to do my work for me! Starting with April and continuing throughout the year, we will be hosting a community vote on the best bat flips from each month, as featured in the Best Bat Flip weekly series. These articles will run alongside the traditional weekly articles, and showcase the very best flips, drops, and celebrations from each month for you to vote on.
Together, we’ll work to narrow down the single best bat flips of 2021, and it starts here! Don’t forget to make some noise in the comments, on Twitter, and in our Discord for your favorite celebrations. Let’s get started!
4/4 – Jared Walsh vs. Matt Foster
https://gfycat.com/elderlycourageousgrebe
395 ft., 103.3 mph, 26° launch angle
Jared Walsh sent everybody home with this walk-off blast off Matt Foster. The bat drop and shoulder roll combination is elite here.
4/5 – Nick Castellanos vs. Sam Howard
https://gfycat.com/impracticalsorrowfulhydra
431 ft., 108.9 mph, 27° launch angle
Few hitters have gotten off to as torrid of a start as Nick Castellanos this season, and he shows off here with a helicopter of a bat flip.
4/8 – Jeff McNeil vs. Anthony Bass
https://gfycat.com/maturelineardrafthorse
408 ft., 104.7 mph, 32º launch angle
Jeff McNeil headlined an explosive opening week of bat flips with this S-tier celebration at the expense of Anthony Bass. Let it fly.
4/8 – Yermín Mercedes vs. Brad Keller
https://gfycat.com/hoarsecandidguineafowl
485 ft., 113.3 mph, 24° launch angle
Yermín Mercedes burst onto the scene with an unprecedented 8-8 start to the season, and has looked like a natural from day one with bombs like this one off of Brad Keller.
4/14 – Willson Contreras vs. Brent Suter
https://gfycat.com/peskyhardtofindamethystsunbird
438 ft., 110.4mph, 28º launch angle
The slugging catcher Willson Contreras looked borderline insulted by Brent Suter with this disgusting bat toss against the Brewers.
4/16 – Justin Upton vs. Caleb Thielbar
https://gfycat.com/organicgreedybandicoot
410 ft., 105.9 mph, 29º launch angle
Justin Upton stopped and admired this titanic shot to left field, letting the bat fall to the ground for an earth-shaking bat drop.
4/21 – Adolis García vs. Mike Mayers
https://gfycat.com/oblongheartfeltbighorn
411 ft., 104.5 mph, 34º launch angle
Adolis García completed a late-game Rangers comeback with this missile to center field off Mike Mayers, and followed it up with a charged bat flip as he fired up the visitors’ dugout.
4/23 – Rougned Odor vs. Logan Allen
https://gfycat.com/thesedearcaudata
385 ft., 103.1 mph, 31º launch angle
Rougned Odor bounced this bat hard off of the ground after crushing a ball to deep right field. When your home runs are few and far between, you have to make them count.
4/24 – Fernando Tatís Jr. vs. Trevor Bauer
https://gfycat.com/remarkablegloriousislandcanary
414 ft., 105.2 mph, 28º launch angle
The 2020 Bat Flip Thunderdome champion is back to defend his title in the new season, starting with this two home run game against Trevor Bauer. It’s wild what you can accomplish when you play with both eyes open.
4/25 – Trevor Story vs. David Hale
https://gfycat.com/miniaturesnivelingeyas
433 ft., 104.2 mph, 33º launch angle
Trevor Story once again finds himself in the best bat flip conversation for this graceful toss, sending the bat tumbling onto the grass out of his backswing.
Now let’s vote!
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)