NewsDialy

Mets rookie Jefry Yan celebrated a strikeout too soon. Two pitches later, the celebration was earned.

8/16/2026

A relief pitcher who launches into his strikeout celebration before the umpire signals the third strike is said to have jumped the gun. Jumped the gun means the celebration came before the official call.

That is what happened Saturday at Citi Field when New York Mets rookie Jefry Yan, 29, went airborne in his signature acrobatic pose before the home plate umpire ruled his fastball to Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nuñez a ball, not a third strike.

The count was 0-2, meaning Nuñez already had two strikes against him and no balls, with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Yan thought his fastball caught the outside corner.

He was airborne before the umpire decided otherwise. What Yan did next was tap the top of his hat. That gesture triggers an ABS review.