New York Mets reliever Jefry Yan shrugged off a chorus of boos from Guardians fans Wednesday night after delivering his first major league strikeout and signature celebration during a 6-5, 10-inning victory at Progressive Field.
Yan, a 29-year-old left-hander making his MLB debut, entered in the bottom of the sixth with the Mets leading 4-3. He struck out pinch-hitter Angel Martinez looking on a slider after working the count to 1-2, then leaped high off the mound before landing in a half-split and sliding back into position.
The home crowd responded with loud jeers. Yan later loaded the bases with two singles and a walk but escaped the jam by striking out Chase DeLauter and inducing a groundout from Jo Adell. He exited the inning scoreless, credited with a hold, and celebrated again as he left the field to more boos.
“They can do whatever they want,” Yan said afterward. “They’re paying for tickets so if they want to yell at me or if they want to boo me, they can do whatever they want. I’m in my zone.”
Yan threw five pitches of at least 100 mph in the outing, topping out at 101.1 mph. He became the first Mets pitcher this season to reach triple digits. His fastball and slider combination produced two strikeouts in one inning of work.
The performance capped a long and unconventional path to the majors. Signed by the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, Yan underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and spent several years out of affiliated baseball, working odd jobs including roofing in Arizona.
He returned with the Miami Marlins organization, pitched in Japan for the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2024 with a 5.58 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 30⅔ innings, then spent time in the Colorado Rockies’ Triple-A system before signing a minor league deal with the Mets in 2025.
In 2026, Yan posted a 3.24 ERA with 77 strikeouts across 41⅔ innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. His strikeout rate reached 43.5 percent overall and climbed above 50 percent at the Triple-A level, though he walked batters at a 15.8 percent clip.
Mets interim manager Andy Green praised the left-hander’s stuff and resilience.
“You think about the road traveled to get to that mound today and it’s really worth telling that story,” Green said.
Yan’s celebrations, which often feature high jumps and dance-like movements, have drawn attention throughout the minor leagues and in Japan. He has described them as an authentic expression of energy rather than showmanship.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the style without criticism.
“I had seen it in the past,” Vogt said. “Everybody’s got their own style.”
The Mets called up Yan after trading away several veteran relievers at the deadline, creating openings in a depleted bullpen. His debut provided both results and electricity in a tight contest that New York eventually won in extras.
Yan said he felt a mix of excitement and nerves but focused on attacking hitters. After freezing Martinez for the first punchout, he celebrated accordingly and later dug deep to escape the bases-loaded situation.
At nearly 30 years old, Yan has finally reached the major leagues after more than a decade of persistence. His combination of elite velocity, high strikeout totals and unapologetic flair left an immediate impression in Cleveland, regardless of the reception from the stands.
