Shotgunning Home Run Celebrations Are Officially Here

If Tony La Russa didn't like that his player, Yermin Mercedes, crushed a 3-0 fastball for a home run with the White Sox leading by 11 runs in the 9th inning because it broke an unwritten baseball rule, he's really not going to like what went down Saturday in Kalamazoo during a Northwoods League summer ball game.

Nolan McCarthy, a third baseman from the University of Kentucky, crushed a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a fourth-inning home run and turned in a home run celebration that's going to send La Russa over the edge. The White Sox skipper is going to stroke out if someone shows this to him on a flip phone.

Someone on the Growlers team threw a Bang energy drink to McCarthy, who promptly slammed it against his cleat and the shotgunning home run celebration was officially on.

For those wondering, I checked the play-by-play from the game and Battle Creek didn't throw one into the ribs of the next batter, Stephen Cullen. He grounded out and the inning ended. McCarthy finished the game 2-for-3 with the home run and two walks. That's right, Battle Creek pitchers never retaliated for the shotgun celebration, which makes me think they weren't offended by such antics.

It could be a case where they thought it was a perfect summer ball celebration and they had to just tip the cap. As for the game, Kzoo won 9-8 in front of 2,774 fans in the stands.