Phillies trade bust Austin Hays taunts Phildephia fans after home run
Austin Hays may have told reporters this weekend that he would have liked to have returned to Philadelphia after last season, but Phillies fans may not be so welcoming after he appeared to taunt them after hitting a home run in the fifth inning of Sunday’s series finale between the Reds and Phillies.
Hays’ opposite field solo blast to right field ended a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning of the Phillies’ 3-1 win at Citizens Bank Park.
And when the Reds’ outfielder rounded third base on his way to home, the broadcast cameras captured Hays putting his right hand up to his ear to playfully taunt the home fans who were understandably unhappy with the turn of events.
While Hays enjoyed the moment, the Phillies got the last laugh, coming away with the win thanks to Kyle Schwarber’s double in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game and a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth by Bryson Stott.
Hays had briefly been a member of the Phillies organization last season and played in 22 games following a trade from the Orioles last July, but struggled during his time in the “City of Brotherly Love.”
He hit .236 during that span and also dealt with health issues, which included a hamstring strain and a kidney infection.
Hays wasn’t offered a contract after the 2024 season came to an end and eventually signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Reds, who have helped him revitalize his career this season.
Still, the return trip to Citizens Bank Park this holiday weekend helped bring back fond memories for Hays from his short time in Philadelphia.
“Fourth of July, sellout crowd, the energy of the stadium was exactly what I remember,” Hays said on Saturday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “That’s kind of what I thought about. Like man, the games here were so fun at home. Always sold out. Having a full year of that, being healthy, would have been really exciting. But things didn’t work out.”
In 142 at-bats this season, Hays had hit .280 entering Sunday’s game and had seven home runs.