Rays infielder Taylor Walls opened up about his . Walls, who hit a double in a , said his fist pumps and yelling of Fight, fight! much as the 45th president did after an a sa sination attempt at a July 13 rally was more of a symbolic joke than anything. That was kind of more of a joke that we have with guys in the locker room, , according to the A sociated Pre s. Joke may not be the right word. It was kind of just something that we had together that we thought was kind of funny, that we thought would be all right. Taylor Walls appeared to mimic former President Donald Trump. Trump, days before he accepted the Republican nomination for president, was struck in the ear with a bullet after an . Explore More As Trump got up, with his ear bloodied, he raised his fist and yelled, Fight, fight! Walls, who had recorded his first extra-base hit since June 25 with the double against Marcus Stroman, added to reporters Tuesday that his similar gesture on the field at Yankee Stadium was not politically motivated. It was more so the symbolism of get knocked down, get back up, keep fighting, keep grinding and kind of just grit [and] determination, Walls said, . Taylor Walls hits a double during the Rays win over the Yankees on Sunday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Thats kind of more so what it was. It wasnt nece sarily directed at Trump politically. More so the inspirational side of someone [who] almost just got Bennett Sousa Jersey their life taken away from them and their first instinct was to stand up and show strength. Walls added that he took inspiration from Trumps response to the near-death experience. I think its pretty inspirational when any person, in the blink of an eye, their life could be taken from them, Walls said Tuesday. They dont really know whats going on in the heat of the moment. To immediatelystand up and show strength, to me, speaks pretty loudly, Walls added. Anyone in that situation or that type of event, when it happens, its strong. It kind of represents character to me, and something that similarly I feel like Ive faced those challenges in baseball, but on a much-suppre sed level. The Cardinals Alec Burleson used a similar gesture as he rounded the bases on a home run against the Braves over the weekend, raising his fist in the air and holding his left hand to his left ear. St. Louis veteran infielder Matt Carpenter later that the celebration was also not meant to be political. Taylor Walls and Richie Palacios of the Rays celebrate after their win over the Yankees on Sunday. Getty Images Definitely not a political statement, Carpenter told the outlet on Sunday. Thats off-base here. Its the furthest thing from a political statement and a little thing [for Burleson]. I can understand why everyone is looking for something right now. The St. Louis Cardinals arent involved in any kind of political statement, he told the outlet. As for Walls, he said he likely wont be doing the gesture again on the field. I dont really see that going much further than that. I dont foresee myself doing it again, he said. Shawn Dubin Jersey