The Braves have had their fair share of on-base celebrations in recent years, and they've started 2024 off with a new one, as players started signaling to the dugout with their fingers together on both hands towards the dugout. While some of the celebrations in years past were self-explanatory, some fans were confused as to what this new celebration meant.
Thankfully, the Braves broadcast picked up on the celebration and investigated its meaning during the Braves' thrashing of the Phillies on Saturday. Let's take a look at what they said.
What the Braves new celebration means
The first notable on-base celebration was introduced in 2020 with the Mix It Up celebration. This celebration continued into the 2021 season when it also coupled with the sword slash celebration. The sword celebration eventually won out as the sole celebration as the 2021 season progressed.
This celebration was introduced by a certain sword-happy outfielder and carried over into the 2022 season after the Braves won the World Series.
In 2023, however, once Guillermo Heredia left for Korea, the Braves decided to move on from the swords and add the Thumbs Up and the Too Small celebrations to their arsenals.
This year, Braves players have now moved on to the fingers placed together celebration. With the Braves scoring relentlessly against the Phillies to start the season, fans started seeing it a lot and began wondering what the meaning could be.
Can someone please get us some info on the @Braves celebration hand gesture? @wileyballard_ @BrandonGaudin @CJNitkowski @mlbbowman #BravesCountry
— Anna Huffstutler (@A_Huffstutler) March 30, 2024
It didn't take long for Wiley Ballard, the Braves' new on-field reporter, to get to the bottom of the celebration. Ballard said that according to Eddie Perez, the new celebration means, "Together. Trying to be a unified group."
Ballard noted that with the team's "World Series or Bust" mantra, togetherness is the only way they're going to get there.
What does the @Braves new celebration mean?
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) March 30, 2024
Together. Trying to be a unified group. 🥹@wileyballard_ has the story⤵️ pic.twitter.com/eEBjtfh0dq
It looks to be working. In the first two games of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies, the club has racked up 21 runs and 32 hits, taking the series against their division rival. Atlanta has shown they were not happy with how last season ended in the postseason and have taken it out on the Phillies.
They will look to sweep their first opening weekend series since 2015 in Miami on Sunday afternoon. Chris Sale makes his Braves debut and will oppose Ranger Suarez at Citizens Bank Park. The series finale starts at 1:35 PM EST.
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