In recent years, it has become common for MLB teams to create unique celebrations after wins, and for the Los Angeles Angels, they have been using a chopping motion this season.
Carlos Estévez routinely does it after each save, which has helped make the celebration popular. And over various points this year, several Angels players made the motion to the bullpen after hitting a home run.
According to Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group, the chopping motion is supposed to be a sledgehammer:
The chopping motion the Angels have been making to celebrate a victory is actually a sledgehammer.
The celebration originated when Angels bullpen catcher Manny Del Campo started doing the chopping motion every time Shohei Ohtani hit a home run or extra-base hit:
It began with Angels bullpen catcher Manny Del Campo and Shohei Ohtani. Del Campo made the sign with Ohtani whenever Ohtani would “hammer” a baseball for a home run or extra-base hit, and from there it spread to something they did to punctuate a victory.
The Angels have some of the most iconic team celebrations in MLB history, dating back to the Rally Monkey in the early 2000s during their World Series championship run.
Last year, the Angels brought back their cowboy hat celebration that was first used in 2002 to honor late owner Gene Autry. The player who hit the home run would wear it and place a sticker on it.
Ben Joyce: ‘It means everything’ to join Angels for MLB debut
The Angels made a series of roster moves on Sunday, including selecting the contract of prospect Ben Joyce. The 22-year-old joined the team less than one year after he was selected in the third round, No. 89 overall, of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Joyce is excited to be with the Angels and he threw a scoreless inning in his MLB debut against the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
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