Why Happ gifted Pederson waffle maker for 1st home run originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
There are bat flips, bat spikes and bat tosses. But as far as celebrations go for big hits, none of those top the waffle maker.
Wait, what?
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Joc Pederson was riding an 0-for-15 streak to start his Cubs tenure when he hit a clutch game-tying home run in the eighth inning Wednesday against the Brewers. He knew it was gone off the bat, turning towards the Cubs' dugout to celebrate before leaving the batter's box.
A surprise to top off that celebration awaited him in the dugout: the waffle maker.
Pederson is new to the Cubs, but the waffle maker goes back to 2018. Ian Happ and Tommy La Stella introduced it that season, handing it out to Cubs players when they got a big hit. A player hitting the ball hard is considered "waffling" it.
The Cubs' offense has gotten off to a slow start this season, which got Happ and Pederson texting on Tuesday night.
“[Happ] says, ‘Yeah, I'm bringing the waffle maker. Gonna waffle some balls,’” Pederson recalled. "It was pretty funny."
The Cubs only managed three hits in Wednesday's loss, Happ and Pederson each tallying one. They're hitting .124 through six games this season.
As they look to turn things around at the plate, the Cubs could be in for a full diet of runs — with a side of waffles.
"Hope we're making a lot of waffles [Thursday]," Pederson said. "It's Happer's, so I rented it for a minute.
"Hopefully we're passing out waffles soon — all of us. It'll be fun to watch."
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