Here are 40 phenomenal bat flips from 2020

Here are 40 phenomenal bat flips from 2020

December 14th, 2020

MLB Network recently counted down the best bat flips from 2020, ultimately giving the top honor to Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr.

Plenty of other big names made the cut, including Carlos Correa, Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado and Ronald Acuña Jr. all landing within the top 10.

From walk-offs to grand slams to postseason game-changers, here's a look at the top 40 bat flips from both the regular season and playoffs.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Oct. 1
With the Padres trailing by four and facing elimination in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, shortstop 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.

2. Carlos Correa, Oct. 15
Astros shortstop stood and watched this one, making sure the ball cleared the center-field wall for a walk-off solo homer, before launching his bat and hopping into an emotional home run trot. Though Correa's Game 5 walk-off extended Houston's stay in the American League Championship Series, the Rays ultimately emerged victorious in seven games.

3. Cody Bellinger, Oct. 18
Though remembered more for the infamous forearm smash with teammate Enrique Hernández that popped Dodgers center fielder 's shoulder out, this go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series featured a memorable bat flip (bat spike?) -- even if it was overshadowed by what happened after Bellinger crossed the plate.

4. Willson Contreras, Sept. 25
This won't be the only time Cubs catcher finds himself on this list, though the epic bat flip following his third-inning homer against the crosstown-rival White Sox was by far his best of the season. This one made the rounds on highlight films as he launched his bat high enough to have it soar through replays of his towering home run. Contreras added a second homer in the ninth inning of this game, though his bat dismount did not compare to the first one.

5. Randy Arozarena, Oct. 7
In the early stages of his record-setting 2020 postseason, Rays left fielder made his presence felt with this mammoth fifth-inning blast -- and ensuing bat flip -- against the division-rival Yankees in Game 3 of the AL Division Series.

6. Max Muncy, Oct. 13
Dodgers first baseman cut Atlanta's four-run lead in half with this laser two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 2 of the NLCS. The ball jumped off his bat -- which he triumphantly tossed into the air -- at a jaw-dropping 111.5 mph, per Statcast. The Dodgers managed to then cut the lead to one, but the potential tying run was stranded at third base.

7. Ronald Acuña Jr., Oct. 6
Braves center fielder set the tone for this NL Division Series matchup against the Marlins, launching a leadoff homer -- followed by a nonchalant bat toss -- in the bottom of the first inning of Game 1.

8. Manny Machado, Oct. 7
Hoping to ignite a spark with the Padres trailing by three in Game 2 of the NLDS, third baseman 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.

9. Gio Urshela, Sept. 30
In one of the more incredible postseason games in recent memory, Yankees third baseman delivered this bat-flipping highlight after clobbering a go-ahead grand slam that set the table for the Yankees' wild back-and-forth 10-9 victory over the Indians to clinch the AL Wild Card Series.

10. Framil Reyes, Sept. 27
Indians designated hitter helped ignite a comeback against the Pirates with this three-run bomb to straightaway center field. He admired the path of the ball for a few steps up the first-base line before launching his bat toward the Cleveland dugout and breaking into a spirited home run trot.

11. Ji-Man Choi, Oct. 15
With the Rays looking to clinch the AL pennant, first baseman launched a game-tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Astros. After going down to get the low pitch, Choi stared into his club's dugout as his teammates erupted before he finally flipped his bat away, all while the ball carried deep into the right-field seats.

12. Enrique Hernández, Oct. 18
With the Dodgers trailing 3-2 in a decisive Game 7 of the NLCS, pinch-hitter teed off for a 424-foot game-tying homer against the Braves. Hernández watched the ball for a few steps while carrying his bat in his left hand before a no-look toss toward his dugout.

13. Jared Walsh, Sept. 12
Having homered in three straight games, Angels first baseman stepped to the plate in the top of the 11th and extended his streak with a towering go-ahead three-run shot. It came with a beautiful one-handed follow-through, allowing Walsh to toss his bat in style before taking off for first base.

14. Trevor Story, Aug. 1
Shortstop knew this one was gone the second he hit it, immediately launching his bat across the plate toward the Rockies' first-base dugout as he lowered his head and started into his home run trot.

15. Gary Sánchez, Aug. 14
Catcher left little doubt about this one, crushing a 457-foot blast over the bullpen in left-center field at Yankee Stadium. He let the rival Red Sox know about it, sizing up his moonshot for a few stops before finally discarding his bat and taking off for first base.

16. Willson Contreras, Aug. 4
Contreras admired his solo shot into Wrigley Field’s left-center-field seats against the Royals, slowly taking a few steps up the first-base line before finally launching his bat into the air as he lowered his head and broke into his trot around the bases.

17. Manny Machado, Aug. 19
Facing the Rangers, Machado came through with one of the most exciting plays in baseball -- a walk-off grand slam -- and he celebrated accordingly. Machado slowly walked up the line as he watched the ball travel through the air, finally flipping his bat and breaking into a trot after the ball landed in the left-center-field seats.

18. Kevin Kiermaier, Oct. 24
With the Rays on the verge of falling behind 3-1 in the World Series, center fielder roped a game-tying home run and promptly flipped his bat to the ground as he took a hop out of the batter's box. Tampa Bay rallied to win the game and even the series, though the Dodgers won the next two games and the title.

19. Ronald Acuña Jr., Sept. 25
It's hard to blame Acuña for flipping his bat after this one, as he teed off for a 495-foot blast against the Red Sox -- the longest home run of 2020.

20. Fernando Tatis Jr., Aug. 5
If you blinked, you likely missed this epic bat flip from Tatis, who launched a two-run homer against the rival Dodgers and flipped his bat on the backswing -- seemingly all in one motion.

21. Luis Robert, Oct. 1
Not many homers are more deserving of a good bat flip than this one, as center fielder absolutely crushed a 487-foot blast to give the White Sox an early lead in their winner-take-all AL Wild Card Series showdown against the A's. Robert didn't let the opportunity go to waste, aggressively spinning his bat toward the Chicago dugout as he trotted toward first base -- and waited for his moonshot to find a landing spot in the left-field seats.

22. Jesús Aguilar, Sept. 24
Marlins DH sent this one deep into the Atlanta night, admiring his majestic blast as he casually discarded his bat with a one-handed flip during his follow through.

23. Didi Gregorius, Sept. 15
Phillies shortstop went down and got this pitch, golfing a two-run shot against the rival Mets before flipping his bat end-over-end into the dirt.

24. Amed Rosario, Aug. 18
It was quite a day for Mets shortstop , who delivered a solo homer paired with a quality bat flip in the seventh before adding a two-run single in the eighth against the Marlins.

25. Will Smith, Oct. 16
In an unforgettable matchup of Will Smith (the pitcher) vs. (the batter) in Game 5 of the NLCS, it was the latter who came out on top. The Dodgers’ catcher teed off for a go-ahead three-run homer off the Atlanta reliever of the same name, then carried his bat by the barrel for a few steps before finally tossing it aside.

26. Trevor Story, Aug. 17
Story clobbered a home run and flipped his bat on the follow-through -- all in one smooth motion -- in this Aug. 17 showdown against the Astros.

27. Giancarlo Stanton, Oct. 6
After hitting a homer that barely made its way over the right-field wall in the second inning of Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays, Yankees DH teed off for a far more impressive shot in the fourth, sending a 458-foot blast beyond the second deck in left field at Petco Park.

28. Max Muncy, Oct. 25
Muncy jumped all over a Tyler Glasnow pitch in Game 5 of the World Series, launching a towering homer before immediately spinning his bat to the ground in front of home plate in emphatic fashion.

29. Tim Anderson, Aug. 18
White Sox shortstop has never been shy about celebrating his home runs with a good bat flip -- and this one against the Tigers was certainly no exception.

30. Hunter Renfroe, Aug. 25
Right fielder 's mammoth two-run homer not only gave the Rays an early lead against the Orioles, but his casual bat flip set the tone for Manuel Margot, who followed with a shot of his own to cap a three-run second inning.

31. Luke Voit, Sept. 15
There were plenty of reasons to flip in the Bronx in this one, as first baseman clobbered a pair of homers to lead the Yankees to a 20-6 rout of the Blue Jays.

32. Gary Sánchez, Aug. 30
It may have been a down year for Sánchez overall, but that didn't stop him from making this list a second time. He admired this 453-foot go-ahead grand slam against the Mets for a few steps, then looked to his dugout and discarded his bat before finally breaking into his home run trot.

33. Marc Canha, July 27
A’s left fielder had no doubt this one against the Angels was gone, lowering his head and trotting to first -- and flicking his bat into the air along the way -- immediately after making contact.

34. Rougned Odor, Sept. 27
Rangers second baseman had good reason to flip his bat after teeing off for his second homer of the game against the rival Astros.

35. Ji-Man Choi, July 26
After batting exclusively from the left side for his first 735 career big league plate appearances, Choi tried his hand at switch-hitting in this July 26 game against the Blue Jays. Nobody would have guessed it was Choi's first game as a switch-hitter – from the sixth-inning home run to flipping his bat all in one motion, he looked like a seasoned veteran from the right side of the plate.

36. Trent Grisham, July 27
Center fielder put the Padres on the board with a first-inning blast against the D-backs, then promptly flicked his bat end-over-end and pointed to the sky as he trotted to first base.

37. Miguel Sanó, Sept. 5
Twins first baseman struck a pose after connecting on this solo homer against the Tigers, taking a few moments to admire his shot before discarding the bat with his right hand while still staring down his drive to left.

38. Wil Myers, July 28
Padres right fielder left little doubt about this homer, teeing off on a Jeff Samardzija pitch and sending a majestic shot into the center-field bullpen at Oracle Park -- and he had the bat flip to go with it.

39. Juan Soto, Aug. 17
Left fielder teed off against the Braves, launching a 445-foot laser to give the Nationals an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Unfortunately for Soto, the Braves rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it -- but Soto's flip was still as smooth as they come.

40. Colin Moran, July 27
Pirates third baseman took a few steps up the first-base line before delivering a casual flip as he admired his second homer of the game against the Brewers, a no-doubt go-ahead shot that one-hopped into the Allegheny River.