To be honest, if Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t win this accolade, I, and plenty others, would have rioted in the streets.
Per MLB writer Paul Casella, the MLB Network named Tatis’ three-run homer bat flip during the wild card series as the number one toss during the 2020 regular season.
Here’s what Casella had to say about Tatis’ selection:
“With the Padres trailing by four and facing elimination in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. roped a three-run homer and unleashed an impassioned outburst toward the San Diego dugout, hoping to ignite a spark. It seemed to work, as Manny Machado followed with a homer of his own and the Padres later took the lead before Tatis provided some breathing room with another home run — this time a two-run shot followed by a monumental bat flip”
Tatis had plenty of prime competition for the accolade. Other names who landed in the top 10 include teammate Manny Machado, Ronald Acuna Jr., Cody Bellinger, and Carlos Correa.
Machado’s bat flip was named the eighth-best on the year and came against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on October 7.
“Hoping to ignite a spark with the Padres trailing by three in Game 2 of the NLDS, third baseman Manny Machado unleashed this unforgettable bat flip (bat throw?) after lining a solo homer off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Machado’s scream and bat toss seemed to do the trick, at least temporarily, as Eric Hosmer followed with a homer of his own, though San Diego’s rally ultimately came up short.”
If you want to see the rest of the top-40 bat flips of the 2020 season, you can check them out here.