Why Josh Naylor did ‘rock the baby’ celebration after homering off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole

Josh Naylor took Gerrit Cole to task on this beautiful home run and hilarious celebration.

On Sunday, with the Cleveland Guardians down 3-1 in Game 4 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees — but leading the series 2-1 — Naylor blasted a solo shot off of Cole to cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth. It was quite the shot to right field as the Guardians looked to shock the Yankees and oust them from the playoffs.

Naylor, however, threw some spice on the home run with this celebration, where he broke out a “rock the baby” move at Cole as he trotted around the bases. He also broke out the “too small” gesture. 

What a wild celebration, but it’s one Naylor has used before this season when he hit home runs.

Per Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie, via MLB.com’s Mandy Bell: “Nayls, when he hits homers off people, he calls them his son. Hence the rocking the baby as he runs around the bases.” 

Sure, the Guardians were still down a run by that point, but what a weekend for home run celebrations. 

Naylor’s home run was the last run Cole would allow in seven innings of work as the Yankees went on to a 4-2 win that forced a winner-take-all Game 5 back in New York. 

Cole referred to Naylor’s celebration as “cute” when he was asked about it postgame.   

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