Rangers DH Joc Pederson Breaks Slump with NSFW Celebration

Pederson's emotional reaction after hitting his first home run of the 2026 season went viral on social media.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:54am

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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson, who has struggled mightily to start the 2026 MLB season, finally broke out of his slump with a home run against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday night. Pederson's exuberant and NSFW celebration after the game-tying blast was caught on camera and quickly spread on social media.

Why it matters

Pederson's poor performance since joining the Rangers in 2025 has made him a target for criticism from fans and media. This home run could be a sign that the veteran slugger is starting to turn things around, which would be a major boost for the struggling Rangers lineup.

The details

Heading into Sunday's game, Pederson was 0-for-16 to start the 2026 season. In the 7th inning, he finally broke through against Reds pitcher Chase Burns, crushing a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1. Pederson's emotional reaction, in which he yelled 'Keep talkin' s**t! Keep talkin' s**t!' was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media.

  • Pederson was 0-for-16 to start the 2026 season before his home run on April 6, 2026.
  • The Rangers eventually lost the game to the Reds by a score of 2-1 on April 6, 2026.

The players

Joc Pederson

A 33-year-old designated hitter for the Texas Rangers who is struggling to live up to the 4-year, $74 million contract he signed with the team prior to the 2025 season.

Chase Burns

The Cincinnati Reds pitcher who gave up the home run to Joc Pederson in the 7th inning.

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What they’re saying

“'Keep talkin' s**t! Keep talkin' s**t!'”

— Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers Designated Hitter

What’s next

Pederson and the Rangers will look to build on this momentum as they continue their series against the Reds on Monday night.

The takeaway

Pederson's emotional outburst after hitting his first home run of the season shows how much pressure he has been feeling to turn around his disappointing start in Texas. If he can build on this performance, it could be a sign that the veteran slugger still has something left in the tank.