From 'AOK' to bat spike: Stott breaks down viral slam video

ATLANTA -- Brennen Stott is Bryson Stott's older brother.

Brennan shot Bryson a text after he hit the second grand slam in Phillies postseason history on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series at Citizens Bank Park. Stott’s slam and subsequent bat spike rocked the ballpark and captured the imaginations not only of Phillies fans but of baseball fans everywhere.

“No way you’ve seen a video of yourself this many times,” Brennan texted.

Stott hadn’t.

“Every time I open Instagram or [X] or something, it’s a different outlet posting it,” he said.

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No highlight has been more enjoyable or popular to watch than a 1-minute, 57-second clip of Stott’s slam with only Phillies fans and ballpark music serving as audio. It has been viewed tens of millions of times across X and elsewhere because the moment is so pure.

On Friday, the Phillies worked out at Truist Park before Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Braves. Afterward, Stott took a few minutes to rewatch the clip and give his thoughts.

“I think this is one of the coolest videos,” he said.

Stott’s teammates agreed.

“Turn me up,” Brandon Marsh said about it.

“As a player, the videos without commentary bring you back to the moment even more,” Garrett Stubbs added. “Obviously, at the time, we’re not listening to a broadcast. We’re out there on the field. It’s just raw noise from fans and players and all that. So listening to the no-commentary homer brings it back even better than anything else.”

AOK
0:00 – 0:18

It starts with Phillies fans singing along to Stott’s walkup song “AOK” by Tai Verdes. It has been Stott’s song since he played at the team’s alternate training site at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2020. Stott has never seen Verdes in concert, but Verdes has reposted a couple of videos of Philadelphia fans singing his song.

“I got chills the first two times I watched it,” Stott said about the video. “Just to hear the stadium playing my walkup song again after the [mound visit] kind of got the crowd back. Obviously, they were into it. But back into the song and into the at-bat.”

Outta here!
0:19 – 0:44

Stott smashes a first-pitch fastball against Marlins left-hander Andrew Nardi. The crowd erupts.

“They go crazy, then even more crazy,” Stott said. “My buddy texted me and said, ‘You didn’t even give them a chance to catch their breath after singing your song.’”

Stott said Wednesday he blacked out and did not remember anything as he rounded the bases.

What sticks out now?

“We always point to the bullpen,” Stott said. “Kind of letting out a yell. I didn’t hear myself yelling. I didn’t hear myself yelling to the dugout. Just seeing everybody, I couldn’t wait to get back to the dugout.”

Not seen in the video is Stott’s bat spike, which rivaled Rhys Hoskins’ in Game 1 of the 2022 NLDS against the Braves.

“Seeing Stott pack the bat into the holster and then slamming it, you know he doesn’t remember doing it,” Marsh said. “His body just did it. I’m like, ‘Dude, if I had hit that homer right there, I’m sprinting. I don’t even know what I’m doing.’ He leaned back on it. He took an extra moment, packed the bat, then slammed it. It was one of the sickest moments I’ve seen.”

“The Philly Bat Spike has become a celebration tailored toward Philadelphia,” Stubbs said. “It may be trademarked here in Philly -- the Philly Bat Spike. Gotta ‘TM’ that.”

The celebration
0:45 – 1:23

Stott touches home plate and returns to the dugout, where he is greeted by teammates.

“It’s really cool to see how happy everybody is,” Stott said. “It’s cool to see everybody pumped up. That’s what’s so special about this group. It doesn’t matter who it is. You always get reactions like this.”

Batter up
1:24 – 1:26

The crowd continues cheering as Cristian Pache takes the next pitch from Nardi.

“The constant buzz of the crowd,” Matt Strahm said. “Even into the first pitch of the next at-bat, the roar is still there.”

Seven Nation Army
1:27 – 1:45

The Phillies’ organist plays The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” The crowd sings along, maintaining the energy level. Back in the dugout, Stott removes his elbow guard and batting gloves.

What was he thinking at that moment?

“Holy crap,” Stott said. “Somebody said I should’ve went out on the steps [for a curtain call]. By the time I got all my stuff off … it wasn’t too late, but Pache was in his at-bat already.”

Marshy love
1:46 – 1:57

Marsh came back to Stott to give him a hug.

“I told him that he was a legend and that he was made for that moment right there,” Marsh said. “I said, ‘I freakin’ love you, man!’ Because he did it not just for him but for all of us. For the entire city of Philadelphia. It was a dagger.”

Stott got too many texts Wednesday and Thursday to respond to everyone. He turned 26 on Friday, so on top of the grand slam texts, he got birthday texts.

“If I don’t respond to some people, I’m sorry,” he said.