Joc Pederson was the first midseason move the Braves made to bolster their outfield amid Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season-ending injury, and he’s continued to make a major impact in the postseason (it’s Joctober, after all).
But he may have to send some thanks to former Cubs teammate Anthony Rizzo.
During the fifth inning of Monday’s National League Division Series Game 3 in Atlanta, Pederson came to the plate as a pinch hitter for Ian Anderson with two runners on. Pederson, who was already 2 for 2 in the series with a home run, launched a massive three-run home run to the right field Chop House.
WELCOME TO JOCTOBER!@yungjoc650 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/scosmrCNuN
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 11, 2021
But take a look at his bat
Joc Pederson used Anthony Rizzo's bat to hit the go-ahead 3-run homer. pic.twitter.com/1JS7DXqR3l
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) October 11, 2021
After the home run, the TBS broadcast zoomed in on Pederson’s bat, and we could see that it had Anthony Rizzo’s name on it. Did Pederson take his former Cubs teammate’s bat with him to Atlanta and save it for the postseason?
I mean, that would be amazing.
Usually big-league players will have their own names written on bats even if the actual bat is a signature model of a different player. The bat could’ve been a stock Rizzo bat from Marucci, but in all likelihood, Pederson was up there hitting a huge home run with Anthony Rizzo’s actual bat.
Update: Pederson confirmed after the game that he indeed “stole” the bat from Rizzo.
Fans loved that.
This was how Twitter reacted
Joc Pederson was using Anthony Rizzo's bat for that home run! pic.twitter.com/jnlS4L2f9N
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 11, 2021
The Cubs continue to shine this postseason with Joc Pederson hitting a home run with Anthony Rizzo’s bat pic.twitter.com/BGbKFZTWsJ
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 11, 2021
Joc hitting a pinch-hit homerun with Rizzo’s bat in the postseason is just wonderful for #Cubs fans pic.twitter.com/UuA88sAu6Q
— G (@GFunk_Error) October 11, 2021
He used Anthony Rizzo’s bat. So basically Rizzo just hit that homerun. I think that’s how that works. pic.twitter.com/n0Hv2RCPbU
— Jordan Bonadona (@JordanBonadona) October 11, 2021
Joc using Rizzo’s bat to homer in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/I2sq4KyNpd
— Corey Freedman (@CFCubsRelated) October 11, 2021
Joc just put a stake in the Brewers heart with Anthony Rizzo’s bat. Drink.
— Cubs On Tap (@CubbiesOnTap) October 11, 2021
Joc Pederson using Anthony Rizzo’s bat to hit a homer against the Brewers in the playoffs.
This makes me feel things… pic.twitter.com/KbF9nrdpqW
— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) October 11, 2021
Wow, Pederson using Anthony Rizzo's bat to hit that dongle. That counts for two home runs for the Cubs.
— David Brown (@AnswerDave) October 11, 2021
Anthony Rizzo bat being used in the Brewer post season game hitting home runs ⚾️🙌🏻😩 #thespiritofrizzo
— Debbie brown (@nycdebby) October 11, 2021
I guess the Cubs are having a presence in the playoffs after all.
