Dodgers News: David Peralta Explains How His ‘Choo Choo’ Celebration Came Over to LA

The Dodgers have a new celebration this season, as you may have noticed by now. The “pepper grinder” is gone. And the helmet pound is gone. So far in the early throes of the season, the team has opted for the choo choo train arm pump, something brought by outfielder David Peralta from his Arizona days.

Peralta spoke with reporters about how his celebration made its way to LA.

“I said, ‘If you want to get on the freight train, get on board,’” Peralta recalled with a laugh, referring to the nickname — and accompanying choo-choo hand signal — he’s had since the start of his major league career. “And everyone was like, ‘We’re gonna do the freight train. Let’s do the choo-choo.’”

Via LA Times

Athletes love their celebrations these days and fans enjoy getting on board with the latest action from the field or from the court. For the Dodgers, the choo choo is more subdued than the golden days of the bubble machine and it’s definitely less sus than that aforementioned pepper grinder from last season.

Most important for Dave Roberts on the topic of David Peralta is the complete package he’s bringing to the clubhouse.

“I just love the way he plays every game like it’s his last. There’s a fire, there’s an energy he brings. He’s an intelligent baseball player. … He’s a very unselfish ball player. So what I kind of hoped I’d see from him is exactly what he’s done.”

While he’s gotten off to a slow start with LA, the team is still looking to him to bring a steadying presence to the lineup and some energy to the dugout.