Rays' Taylor Walls: Donald Trump-inspired hit celebration wasn't endorsement of president

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said his celebration inspired by Donald Trump after getting a hit Sunday was not intended to be a presidential endorsement. 

After hitting a double against the New York Yankees, Walls looked toward his dugout and pumped his fist and shouted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Walls was mimicking Trump’s gesture after being hit in the ear by a bullet during an assassination attempt July 13 during a Pennsylvania rally. 

Walls said he’s unlikely to do the celebration again after a hit. 

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls before a game against the New York Yankees July 20, 2024, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. (Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

However, Walls discussed how inspiring Trump’s reaction was after the assassination attempt while speaking before the Rays’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday. 

"I think it's pretty inspirational when any person, in the blink of an eye, their life could be taken from them," Walls said. "They don't really know what's going on in the heat of the moment.

RAYS' TAYLOR WALLS PERFORMS TRUMP-INSPIRED CELEBRATION AFTER DOUBLE VS. YANKEES

"To immediately stand up and show strength, to me, speaks pretty loudly. Anyone in that situation or that type of event, when it happens, it's strong. It kind of represents character to me and something that similarly I feel like I've faced those challenges in baseball, but on a much suppressed level."

As for why Walls won’t be making the gesture again after a hit, he said it was "kind of more of a joke that we have with guys in the locker room."

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