Viral Bat Flip Reminder Of Four All-Time Red Sox Home Run Trots

There’s nothing that erupts a crowd more than an epic bat flip, as some of baseball’s all-time greatest moments have proven throughout history.

It’s become an art that’s worthy of being framed and appreciated, depending on the player, occasion and bat flip execution of course. There’s José Bautista’s vicious bat chuck in the 2015 postseason, Cody Bellinger’s Game 7 flip in the 2020 National League Championship Series, and Carlos Delgado’s iconic four-home run performance versus the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 — if we really want to tick the clock back.

That’s just a few worth re-watching in the middle of an offseason night.

Baseball’s controversial appreciation for pimping moonshots resurfaced when Rays infielder Junior Caminero crushed a 454-foot solo homer for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League. Caminero’s trip around the bases went viral on social media — and deservingly — after the 21-year-old helped capture the league’s 2024-25 championship over Tigres del Licey.

Caminero’s staple moment warranted a reason to reminisce about the Boston Red Sox and their contributions to the bat-flipping community across the franchise’s 100-plus-year-old history. It wouldn’t be too difficult to recall a few, right?

Some came in the postseason, some came from legendary sluggers and one came when Fenway Park still had its iconic Coca-Cola bottle on the Green Monster’s light tower.

Here are four all-time Red Sox round-tripper trots that’ll give any of baseball’s greatest a run for its money:

Manny Ramirez (2007 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
If you were around during Boston’s 2007 World Series run, or still have a copy of the team’s championship DVD lying around, then you’ll probably remember this one.

Ramirez came through in a huge spot to wrap up Game 2 of the American League Division Series. With All-Star closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodríguez on the mound and the game tied at 3-3, Ramirez launched a 1-0 fastball way above the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park to give the Red Sox a 2-0 series lead.

The three-run blast was epic in itself, but Ramirez glancing at the home run with both arms raised as Fenway Park roared in celebration, made it immensely more iconic.

This was arguably the celebration of all Red Sox home run celebrations and has withstood the test of time.

David Ortiz (2013 vs. New York Yankees)
It would be sacrilegious to create any home run list relating to the Red Sox without mentioning “Big Papi” at least once.

Ortiz was a menace in the batter’s box for 20 seasons in the big leagues and although the Hall of Fame slugger provided us with 541 home runs to choose from, let’s go with a trip around the bases against the Yankees — at Yankee Stadium.

In 2013, Ortiz took then-New York starter Hiroki Kuroda deep into Yankee Stadium’s right-field bleachers to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. The home run was a sight to behold in itself, but Ortiz’s quick bat toss toward Boston’s dugout before his trip around the bases made it one of Big Papi’s most memorable.

Dustin Pedroia (2007 vs. Cleveland then-Indians)
Boston overcame a 3-1 series deficit before securing its date with the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series.

Pedroia, not the first name that comes to mind in the bat-flipping discussion, pitched in before the party got started at Fenway Park. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pedroia belted a two-run home run — his first ever in the postseason — off Cleveland’s Rafael Betancourt to put Boston ahead, 5-3. Pedroia immediately dropped his bat and gazed at the ball’s travel over the Green Monster and was greeted with a celebratory dug from David Ortiz on the on-deck circle.

Rafael Devers (2024 vs. New York Yankees)
The most recent bat-flipper to carry on the tradition is Devers, who showed no mercy amid his ongoing rivalry with Gerrit Cole.

Devers continued to give Cole nightmares throughout 2024 and even celebrated after hitting one of his eight career home runs against the $324 million right-hander. During Boston’s July 6 matchup with New York this past season, Devers got a hold of Cole again and went yard at Yankee Stadium before slamming his bat and barking in celebration toward Boston’s dugout.

Cole, perhaps in disbelief of Devers’ career .350 batting average against him, starred directly at the three-time All-Star from the mound.

With the 2025 season on the horizon, the Devers-Cole feud will enter a new chapter and perhaps open the door for more thrilling home run celebrations.