Giants Celebrate Rookie Reliever's First Save in Messy Fashion

Blade Tidwell was doused in beer, ketchup, and mustard after recording his first MLB save.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:04pm by Ben Kaplan

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An abstract, expressionist painting in neon colors depicting the chaotic scene of a baseball player being covered in a shower of beer, ketchup, and mustard, capturing the raw energy and emotion of the celebratory moment.A celebratory beer shower turns messy as a Giants rookie reliever is drenched in condiments after earning his first MLB save.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Giants celebrated rookie reliever Blade Tidwell's first career MLB save in a rather unorthodox way - by dousing him with beer, ketchup, and mustard while he was showering after the game. Tidwell, who was unaware he had recorded a save until his catcher handed him the ball, said he 'almost threw up' from the messy celebration.

Why it matters

The Giants' over-the-top celebration highlights the lighthearted, sometimes immature, culture of Major League Baseball clubhouses, where even major accomplishments can be met with silly, messy traditions. While these types of celebrations may seem unsanitary, they are a common way for teammates to bond and commemorate milestones in a player's career.

The details

In his first appearance of the 2026 season, Tidwell pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first career save in the Giants' 7-2 victory over the Mets. After the game, Tidwell's teammates doused him with beer, ketchup, and mustard while he was showering, much to his dismay. Tidwell said he 'almost threw up' from the experience, but acknowledged it was a typical way for the team to celebrate a player's accomplishment.

  • Tidwell recorded his first MLB save on April 3, 2026.

The players

Blade Tidwell

A rookie relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who recorded his first career MLB save on April 3, 2026.

Daniel Susac

The Giants' catcher who informed Tidwell that he had recorded a save, unbeknownst to the rookie pitcher.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I almost threw up. A lot of condiments.”

— Blade Tidwell, Rookie Reliever

The takeaway

The Giants' celebration of Tidwell's first save exemplifies the lighthearted, sometimes immature, culture of Major League Baseball clubhouses, where even major accomplishments can be met with silly, messy traditions as a way for teammates to bond. While the celebration may have seemed unsanitary, it is a common practice in the sport to commemorate milestones in a player's career.