Mets' Yan jumps to celebrate K too early then gives up walk-off HR

New York Mets reliever Jefry Yan learned a valuable lesson the hard way during a tough loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Yan, a 30-year-old rookie who was pitching in just his seventh big-league game Friday, had become well-known for his viral strikeout celebrations even before reaching the majors. The southpaw celebrates each of his Ks with a trademark jump into the air as if he's on a trampoline.

On Friday night at Rate Field, however, he got a little too jumpy. Pitching in the ninth inning of a 4-4 game, Yan leapt into the air to celebrate what he thought was a strikeout of Colson Montgomery. The only problem was that the pitch was clearly a ball, and instead of strike three, it evened the count at 2-2 while leaving Yan with egg on his face.

The premature celebration sparked the White Sox, as Montgomery worked a leadoff walk. Yan retired the next two hitters but then gave up a walk-off homer to backup catcher Jake Rogers, which awarded the White Sox a 6-4 win.

After the game, Yan acknowledged his mistake and pledged to wait for the call before beginning his celebration going forward.

"That's one of those situations where it becomes a learning experience," Yan said through an interpreter, per SNY. "You can't go out there and kind of lose the goal, which is to execute the pitches. It won't happen again. Again, the plan is to execute the pitches, and then once the job is (done), I think that you can celebrate the way that you want to."

Mets interim manager Andy Green took one positive from the unwanted viral moment - in that Yan nearly got himself out of the inning before giving up the game-ending homer to the unlikeliest of hitters.

"Certainly Jefry will learn not to jump before the play is over," Green said. "That's something he's still working through. I think the emotions of the moment got him there. (He) settled in nicely (after the walk), got a bunt and then got a groundout. I think we all really liked that matchup against Rogers, and Rogers got him on a fastball down."

Yan, now in his eighth professional season, joined the Mets on a minor-league deal last July. He pitched in both Double-A and Triple-A this year before getting his long-awaited call to the majors earlier in August.

The Dominican native had put up a 1.59 ERA with seven strikeouts and five walks in 5 2/3 innings before Friday's game.

Rogers, who played hero for the White Sox, was appearing in just his sixth game for the South Siders after being claimed off waivers last week. The 31-year-old started 2026 with the Detroit Tigers, and he's played for four teams - Detroit, the Boston Red Sox, the White Sox, and the Baltimore Orioles - in the last 22 days.