MJ Melendez channeled Eric Hosmer after hitting game-winning homer for Royals

When MJ Melendez stepped to the plate at Comerica Park on Sunday, the Royals’ win probability percentage was just 7.3%.

After Melendez hit the first pitch he saw from Tigers pitcher Shelby Miller over the right-field wall, that win percentage increased to 81.4%, per MLB.com. Melendez clubbed a three-run homer that turned a two-run deficit into a 3-2 victory.

Melendez celebrated with a bat flip and then pulled out former Royals star Eric Hosmer’s Backpack jubilation move after rounding the bases.

“I did a little bat flip, but nothing too crazy,” Melendez told Bally Sports Kansas City’s Joel Goldberg in an on-field interview. “When I got home, it was very subtle, I did a little Backpack. I was watching Hoz’s podcast, and I saw he was talking about his Backpack thing. So I did that a little bit after I crossed home plate, and then just obviously guys were excited coming to dugout.”

You can see the Backpack celebration in these videos.

Here is a clip of Hosmer’s celebration when he was with the Royals.

After Sunday’s game, Melendez and Hosmer exchanged messages on the social-media channel X.