Watch: Cubs' Christopher Morel rips jersey off rounding bases in epic walk-off celebration
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Christopher Morel was fired up to say the least after hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the crosstown rival White Sox.
Morel handed the Cubs a 4-3 win as he blasted a three-run homer off White Sox reliever Gregory Santos in the bottom of the ninth. That's when the party started.
The 24 year old in his second MLB season removed his helmet as he rounded first base and then tossed it in celebration as the fans at Wrigley Field went wild. He continued his sprint around the bases, then pulled off his jersey and tossed it as he rounded third. He emphatically jumped on home plate and then was mobbed by his teammates. His undershirt was ripped away entirely during the raucous celebration.
“I mean Christopher Morel … it’s just so electric,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “That ball was smoked.”
The blast marked the first walk-off homer of Morel's MLB career.
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“Willson (Contreras) once told me 'In those moments, just try to stay like in the eye of the hurricane.’ … Just think about what I’m doing in that moment. Don’t think about anything else,” Morel said through a translator.
The victory improved the Cubs to 62-58 on the season. They sit 2½ games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and are in a three-way tie for the final wild-card spot.
Contributing: Associated Press