Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce laps up pregame attention, makes MLB debut
Bruce, the bat dog, retrieves a bat as he is recognized before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON — The dog days of summer arrived Saturday at Nationals Park.
Bruce, a 21-month-old Golden Retriever, fetched a bat during a ceremony before the Washington Nationals' game against the Miami Marlins as part of a Pups in the Park promotion. He retrieved bats the last two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, Washington's Triple-A affiliate.
Bruce, wearing a bandana with an 'MLB debut' patch he received when he arrived at the stadium, was presented a commemorative bat. He then took a circuitous route from the dugout toward first base after Nationals reliever Zach Brzykcy dropped the bat in foul territory before the bat dog collected his quarry to the delight of a crowd wowed by his work and enthusiasm.
'Look at this dog and try not to smile,' said Josh Snyder, Bruce's owner. 'He's great. He's goofy. I think he's the perfect candidate for Rochester, the Red Wings and now the Nationals.'
Snyder, who wore a No. 25 Nationals jersey with 'Bruce' on the nameplate, said he drove through the night with Bruce and arrived in Washington around 3 a.m. Saturday. But it was anything but a rough morning and early afternoon for Bruce, who casually lapped up attention as he walked through the tunnel in the stadium.
Bruce spent about 50 minutes on the field before the ceremony, where he was hounded by well-wishers. He also did a couple practice bat retrievals with Snyder's assistance before Nationals catcher Riley Adams stopped to pet him on his way out for pregame work.
He won't work during the actual game, however, and will return to Triple-A duties afterward.
Bruce is Snyder's second dog work to with the Red Wings, following the late Milo, and both participated in campaigns to raise money for Rochester's Veterans Outreach Center and Honor Flight of Rochester.
This week — which included an announcement from the Nationals on Tuesday that Bruce had worked his tail off to earn a promotion — generated plenty of buzz even before Saturday's debut.
'Social media, everything like that seems like it's seriously blown up, and we love it,' Snyder said. 'Really good publicity with our goal and our mission of bringing people together. It shows it's just doing that.'
Patrick Stevens, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Bo Bichette's first-pitch lead-off homer powers Blue Jays to win over White Sox
Bo Bichette batting leadoff is turning into a huge success. Article content If he can somehow ease up on his aggressive approach at the plate, which doesn't seem likely, then perhaps this new-found role can be sustained. Article content Article content Regardless, Bichette has been on fire with as he ignited the Blue Jays in Saturday's meeting against the Chicago White Sox under a closed roof at Rogers Centre that did eventually open once the home side opened the floodgates. Article content Article content For the second time in four games, Bichette led off the game with a home run on the first pitch, the third time in five games Bichette has gone deep. Article content Following a two-game losing streak, the Blue Jays returned to their winning ways following their 7-1 victory over the ChiSox, who took the series opener with that exact score. Article content Bichette leads the Jays in homers (11) and RBI (46). Article content The more he keeps hitting, the more unlikely Bichette — a pending free agent — will be moved at next month's trade deadline. Article content Keep in mind Bichette did not record his first homer of the season until May 3 when he went yard in a loss to the visiting Cleveland Guardians. Article content In the second inning of Saturday's game, the Jays produced five hits during a three-run frame. Article content Article content The hitting onslaught began when George Springer led off the inning on a sharp line drive into left field. Article content Following injuries to Daulton Varsho (hamstring) and Anthony Santander (shoulder), the Jays' lineup has undergone change, including the reappearance of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. into the No. 3 hole. Article content Article content Article content The one constant has been Bichette, who has reasserted his elite status. Article content Davis Schneider was inserted and he came through by driving in the Jays' third run of the game, the first of three RBI on the afternoon for the left-fielder. Article content
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Bo Bichette's homer, Jose Berrios's solid outing lead Blue Jays past White Sox 7-1
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos (17) works against the Chicago White Sox during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday June 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO — Bo Bichette's smashed the first pitch he saw for a solo home run and the Toronto Blue Jays never looked back in a 7-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon. Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes each had an RBI single in a three-run second inning for Toronto (41-35) after George Springer scored on a throwing error. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tacked on another run in the seventh with a home run to deep left field. Davis Schneider added more insurance with a two-run double in the eighth. Jose Berrios (3-3) was solid, allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks over 7 2/3 innings, striking out five. Yariel Rodriguez and Chad Green combined for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Andrew Benintendi hit into a fielder's choice in the sixth inning, with Miguel Vargas evading catcher Alejandro Kirk's tag to score for Chicago (24-53) after Guerrero threw straight home instead of tagging the hitter. Aaron Civale (1-4) pitched seven innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk, striking out two. Jake Palisch allowed two more runs in his one inning of relief. Takeaways Blue Jays: After seven relievers pitched in Toronto's 7-1 loss on Friday — a scheduled bullpen day — it was critical that Berrios go deep into the game to get the bullpen some rest. He delivered, throwing 95 pitches and earning a standing ovation from the 41,488 fans at Rogers Centre when he left the game in the eighth inning. White Sox: Despite allowing five runs, Civale actually managed to keep the scoring relatively low after coughing up nine hits and issuing a walk. His 96-pitch performance was also a relief to a beleaguered Chicago bullpen that has been tasked with closing, and sometimes starting, many games this season. Key moment Springer's baserunning from first to third continues to be a strength this season, with his speed on the basepaths forcing right-fielder Austin Slater's throw to third in the second inning. The ball went into the netting, allowing Springer to score and Ernie Clement to advance to third. Key stat Bichette needed 16 games to hit his first home run of the season, finally connecting on May 3. His solo shot in the first inning on Saturday was his 11th of the season, most on the Blue Jays. Up next Chris Bassitt (7-3) gets the start as Toronto finishes its three-game series with Chicago with a Sunday matinee. The White Sox had not yet determined who their starting pitcher would be. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
The final act of the NBA Finals: 2 teams, 1 game, 1 trophy. Pacers at Thunder will decide a champion
OKLAHOMA CITY — It started with 30 teams, most of them fairly optimistic about their chances when the season began eight months and 1,320 games and 35,543 3-pointers and 299,608 points ago. Article content Only two teams remain. For one game. Game 7. Article content The NBA season ends Sunday night when the Indiana Pacers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder to decide which team will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy, take over for the Boston Celtics as champions and become the league's seventh different title winner in the last seven years. It's the first winner-take-all game in the NBA since 2016, when Cleveland beat Golden State. Article content 'I'm very much looking forward to Game 7,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'The last time we've had one of these in the finals, I think, was '16. These are special moments certainly for both teams but for our league, for the game, for the worldwide interest in the game. It's a time to celebrate.' Article content Yes, but only one team will celebrate Sunday night. For the Pacers, it would be a first NBA title and the capper to a season that started with Indiana banged up and getting off to a 10-15 record through the first 25 games. No team has ever been below .500 that deep into a season and went on to win a championship. Article content For the Thunder, it would be a first NBA title — kind of, sort of, Seattle won one in 1979 and even though the franchise moved to Oklahoma City from there, the Thunder don't recognize it as one of their own — and wrap up a season in which the team scored more points than any other club in NBA history and posted the best record. Article content 'We have to understand the work is done and we have to trust the work,' Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said Saturday, the final practice day of the season. 'The muscle is built. We have to flex that muscle. That's what tomorrow will come down to for us.' Article content Article content It has been the epitome of a back-and-forth series, with both teams having the lead at some point. Indiana led 1-0 and 2-1; Oklahoma City led 3-2 but got blown out in Game 6, its first chance at winning the title. Article content So, here we are, tied at 3-3, one game away from a decision. Article content 'Grateful for the opportunity,' Thunder guard Jalen Williams said. 'That's one thing I can say is throughout the whole entire thing, you always have to remain grateful for where you are because there's a lot of NBA players that will trade their spot with me right now. That's how I look at it. But as far as history, I want to be on the good side of that, for sure.' Article content Oklahoma City has looked every bit the part of a championship contender all year; going 68-14 in the regular season cemented the Thunder into the favourite's role. Being the best team in the regular season is for this very privilege, to play host for Game 7.
