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Which landed 1st? Halpin's epic HR or the 'majestic' bat flip that followed?

Petey Halpin delivered a career-defining moment for the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the ALCS, launching a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The blast, a Statcast-measured 385-foot shot, came off Rays starter Griffin Jax on a 95.9 mph sinker that Halpin turned into a 105 mph exit velocity.

As the ball soared into right field, Halpin’s immediate reaction—a bat flip that spiraled dramatically into the air—became an instant highlight, drawing cheers from a raucous Progressive Field crowd and even prompting teammate Steven Kwan to leap onto the field in celebration. The Guardians now hold a 2-1 series lead, with Halpin’s swing and follow-up move encapsulating the team’s momentum as they push for their first World Series appearance since 2016.

Manager Stephen Vogt later joked about the flip’s proximity to the bullpen, while Kwan called it ‘majestic,’ underscoring the sheer energy of the play. Halpin, who had long resisted bat flips despite coaching advice against them, admitted the moment felt surreal, describing it as a career highlight he ‘blacked out’ during.

The Guardians’ bullpen, located just beyond the center-field wall, added an extra layer of drama, as reliever Erik Sabrowski later reflected on the unexpected power display from a batter he had initially expected to handle differently.

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