In baseball, the phrase "rock the baby" refers to a celebratory gesture where a player mimics rocking an imaginary baby in their arms, typically after hitting a home run. This celebration was notably popularized by Cleveland Guardians player Josh Naylor during the 2022 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees. After hitting a home run off Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, Naylor rounded the bases while rocking an imaginary baby and even referred to Cole as his "son," implying dominance over the pitcher
. The gesture symbolizes a playful taunt, suggesting that the pitcher is like a child or "baby" to the batter, emphasizing the batter's superiority in that moment. This celebration has roots in other sports as well, such as NBA player Russell Westbrook, who popularized the "rock the baby" move as a taunt indicating that smaller defenders are like babies to him due to his strength and skill
. In summary, in baseball, "rock the baby" is a home run celebration where the hitter pretends to rock a baby, signifying that they have "parented" or dominated the pitcher they just hit against
