Detroit Tigers Outfielder Looks Towards A's Dugout After Home Run

Jason Burke | Apr 5, 2024

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Mark Canha (21) bats a solo home run against Oakland Athletics / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Detroit Tigers up 3-2, outfielder Mark Canha stepped up to the plate and launched a no-doubt dinger to left. As he started his run to first base, he looked towards the A's dugout.

Mark Canha to A's dugout on his home run. pic.twitter.com/3ypeI8wVtZ

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 5, 2024

Canha began his big-league career with the A's in 2015, and spent seven seasons with the club before ultimately signing with the New York Mets in free agency following the 2021 season. Given the state of the Oakland A's franchise, some were initially taking this as a message of sorts.

According to Jason Beck, the Tigers beat reporter for MLB.com, Canha said after the game, "I was looking up and blacked out. I hope they know I wasn't trying to look in their dugout or anything. I was just kinda looking at the crowd and taking it in. Something just came out. I think it's just that Opening Day energy."

It's hard to tell for sure, but Canha's story seems to check out in watching the replay.

It should also be noted that A's fans are very familiar with Canha having some extra juice after hitting a homer. In a game against the San Francisco Giants, Canha very obviously mouthed the words, "bat flippin' season." It's part of why the fans in Oakland still enjoy the 35-year-old.

The A's ended up losing the game, 5-4, dropping their record to 1-7 on the season. The past three games have been one-run losses, which is a much more acceptable form of losing than the way they played on Monday, which resulted in five errors in three innings and a 9-0 defeat against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

For the Detroit Tigers, the win takes them to 6-1 on the year, and heading into Friday night's games, they have sole possession of first place with the Cleveland Guardians right behind them, a half-game back. Some have named the Tigers a sneaky team to watch out for this season, and in the early going they're on a roll.