Over the years, we’ve seen the execution of the bat flip expand and its definition evolve. In 2025, a “bat flip” can include a toss, a drop, a slam, a throw and, of course, a flip.
But however it’s defined, the bat flip is a part of the game in which players can show their personalities, celebrate their accomplishments and make moments more exciting for fans and viewers.
As part of its year-end countdown highlighting the top moments of 2025, MLB Network broke down the 40 best bat flips. Not all of them looked the same, but that’s the point — the uniqueness is celebrated almost as much as the home runs themselves.
For a regular-season bat flip to top the list — particularly one from May — it had to be particularly epic. And this one checked all the boxes: a superstar in a tie game, a division rivalry and with the go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning. Ohtani’s celebration matched the moment as he tossed his bat in the air with both hands, raised his arms to the heavens and took a glorious trip around the bases.
Crow-Armstrong’s incredible first two months of 2025, part of the 23-year-old’s breakout season at the plate, were accentuated by this go-ahead grand slam in Cincinnati. Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs and drove in six runs, capped by this seventh-inning blast off of Tony Santillan. Crow-Armstrong made the flip, waited for the ball to sneak just inside the right-field foul pole and screamed in triumph in the highlight of a game the Cubs won 13-6.
It’s almost difficult to call this a bat flip when it appeared to be simply an extension of Tatis’ powerful, violent swing. As he finished his follow-through, Tatis dropped the bat from near the top of his shoulder, immediately aware that he had just broken a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the ninth against Kenley Jansen. It was Tatis’ first career walk-off home run, and his reaction was one of someone who was accustomed to the revelry.
Arozarena’s bat-flipping game was in midseason form when he blasted his first home run of the season in the Mariners’ 2025 opener. It showed that March games can carry similar emotional impact as late-season clashes. Speaking of clashes, that term can aptly describe his celebration, as Arozarena slammed his bat to the ground, the ball soaring out as he tied the score in a game the Mariners eventually won 4-2.
The fact that this was a more traditional looking bat flip doesn’t make it any less majestic. The home run itself was equally grandiose, traveling 401 feet — a homer in all 30 ballparks — and putting Seattle ahead of the Twins in the eighth inning. Crawford completed his follow-through and smoothly allowed the bat to escape from his hands in front of him all in one motion, sending the T-Mobile Park crowd into a frenzy.
The first postseason entries on the list come in rapid fire. One of the earliest showings was a two-homer game by Hernández in the Wild Card Series, but the action continued into the Division Series. Guerrero’s grand slam against the Yankees was the second of his eight postseason homers and was topped off by a casual toss of the bat that few can make look so cool.
11. Shohei Ohtani, Oct. 27 vs. Blue Jays (World Series Game 3)
12. Bo Bichette, Nov. 1 vs. Dodgers (World Series Game 7)
13. Teoscar Hernández, Oct. 27 vs. Blue Jays (World Series Game 3)
One of the most dramatic World Series in recent memory also had its share of flair, with the escalation of that drama accompanied by some of the season’s most memorable bat flips. Ohtani had two in Game 3 alone and Toronto got a major emotional lift in Game 7 from stalwarts Bichette and Springer before falling short in 11 innings.
16. Shohei Ohtani, Sept. 30 vs. Reds (NL Wild Card Series Game 1)
The string of postseason home runs is broken by Gurriel, who has an argument for the most impressive blast on this list. It came on a 103.9-mph fastball from Mason Miller, the fastest pitch anyone has homered against in the Statcast Era (since 2015). Gurriel’s smash traveled 439 feet, tied the game in the eighth inning and was accompanied by a flip befitting an unprecedented accomplishment.
19. Nick Kurtz, June 19 vs. Astros
21. Julio Rodríguez, Sept. 24 vs. Rockies
22. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Aug. 25 vs. Nationals
Few players in baseball can match the style and swagger of Chisholm, the Yankees’ second baseman. You can often find him with his cap tilted upward, his hair finely coiffed and his neck adorned with flashy jewelry. This bat flip was the epitome of Chisholm’s panache, as he released the bat from a leaned-back, commanding position while dropping one into the right-field seats in Yankee Stadium.
24. Fernando Tatis Jr., Sept. 26 vs. Diamondbacks
25. Shohei Ohtani, July 21 vs. Twins
27. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., May 9 vs. Dodgers
There isn’t much as awe-inspiring in the game as a smooth left-handed swing that connects on a down-and-in pitch for a home run, and this portion of the list features two of them. The first was Benson’s second dinger against the Guardians in May, followed by Merrill’s nine days later. The best way to complete such a beautiful display is to enhance its beauty with a self-assured bat flip that says, “I just did that.”
Acuña’s season was hampered by injuries, one a holdover from 2024 that kept him out until May 23. But the Braves outfielder still found time for highlights, including one of the all-time great throws from right field. This homer was another, as he took an Aaron Civale fastball to the opposite field at 107.1 mph, topping it off with a highlight-reel flip of the lumber.
38. Pete Crow-Armstrong, June 17 vs. Brewers
When someone who handles the bat as well as Arraez hits a rare home run — he had eight in 675 plate appearances in 2025 — you can be reasonably certain that the bat flip will be equally masterful. In this one, Arraez carried the bat almost all the way to first before unleashing a perfect flip, especially for someone who gets so few opportunities to power up and, at the same time, flex his creative muscle.
