Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce gets major league call-up and fans can't wait for his MLB debut
MLB goes pawsome as Nationals' bat dog Bruce gets promoted for his long-awaited big league debut (AP Photos)
The Washington Nationals have taken an unconventional — and utterly adorable — approach to bolster their clubhouse atmosphere. Bruce the Bat Dog, a 21-month-old golden retriever with a flawless 1.000 retrieving average, has been officially called up from Triple-A Rochester to make his major league debut on Saturday, June 14.
While he won't be scooping up bats during actual gameplay, Bruce will be honored in a ceremonial role before the game against the Miami Marlins, as part of the Nationals' 'Pups in the Park' celebration.
From Triple-A to MLB: Nationals'
bat dog
Bruce is making history with his big league call-up
Bruce's promotion marks a first-of-its-kind milestone for the Nationals organization. Having made his professional debut in September, Bruce quickly became a fan favorite in Rochester with his charm, discipline, and relentless work ethic.
The Nationals have now given him a chance to shine on baseball's biggest stage — even if only for a day.
'Our fans and front office are always excited to see our players get promoted to the Nationals, but Bruce's promotion is a historic callup to the big leagues that he richly deserves,' said Rochester Red Wings general manager Dan Mason.
And it wasn't just another press release announcement. In true baseball fashion, Bruce was treated like any top prospect.
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Rochester manager Matt LeCroy personally delivered the news in a heartwarming video that quickly went viral. Sitting at his desk, LeCroy looked across at the attentive retriever and said, 'Hey, come on in big dog, have a seat. ... I have some news for you, I think you're gonna like it.'
Bruce's major league moment will include a press conference, a special pregame recognition, and an honorary bat retrieval ceremony at Nationals Park.
The day also features Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, who will be stationed at Section 143 with adoptable pups in their WTAR Puppy Lounge — making the whole experience a perfect blend of baseball and pawsitivity.
'Nobody makes people smile more than Bruce, and I'm sure he'll do a WOOFtastic job for the Nats!' Mason added. 'He has proven himself to be ready for the show in a very short time and has earned the phenom status that has been bestowed upon him.
He'll put on a doggone great show for Nats fans on June 14.'
Although Bruce will return to Triple-A duties after his big league cameo, the Nationals made it clear that this moment was well-earned. They even noted in their announcement, 'There are no rules that say a dog can't play baseball.'
From tail-wagging dedication in the minors to headlining a major league event, Bruce the Bat Dog has truly become the Nationals' top 'paw-spect.'
Also Read:
Aaron Judge goes beast mode with 469-foot home run in Kansas City that almost clears the entire stadium
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Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce gets major league call-up and fans can't wait for his MLB debut
MLB goes pawsome as Nationals' bat dog Bruce gets promoted for his long-awaited big league debut (AP Photos) The Washington Nationals have taken an unconventional — and utterly adorable — approach to bolster their clubhouse atmosphere. Bruce the Bat Dog, a 21-month-old golden retriever with a flawless 1.000 retrieving average, has been officially called up from Triple-A Rochester to make his major league debut on Saturday, June 14. While he won't be scooping up bats during actual gameplay, Bruce will be honored in a ceremonial role before the game against the Miami Marlins, as part of the Nationals' 'Pups in the Park' celebration. From Triple-A to MLB: Nationals' bat dog Bruce is making history with his big league call-up Bruce's promotion marks a first-of-its-kind milestone for the Nationals organization. Having made his professional debut in September, Bruce quickly became a fan favorite in Rochester with his charm, discipline, and relentless work ethic. The Nationals have now given him a chance to shine on baseball's biggest stage — even if only for a day. 'Our fans and front office are always excited to see our players get promoted to the Nationals, but Bruce's promotion is a historic callup to the big leagues that he richly deserves,' said Rochester Red Wings general manager Dan Mason. And it wasn't just another press release announcement. In true baseball fashion, Bruce was treated like any top prospect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo Rochester manager Matt LeCroy personally delivered the news in a heartwarming video that quickly went viral. Sitting at his desk, LeCroy looked across at the attentive retriever and said, 'Hey, come on in big dog, have a seat. ... I have some news for you, I think you're gonna like it.' Bruce's major league moment will include a press conference, a special pregame recognition, and an honorary bat retrieval ceremony at Nationals Park. The day also features Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, who will be stationed at Section 143 with adoptable pups in their WTAR Puppy Lounge — making the whole experience a perfect blend of baseball and pawsitivity. 'Nobody makes people smile more than Bruce, and I'm sure he'll do a WOOFtastic job for the Nats!' Mason added. 'He has proven himself to be ready for the show in a very short time and has earned the phenom status that has been bestowed upon him. He'll put on a doggone great show for Nats fans on June 14.' Although Bruce will return to Triple-A duties after his big league cameo, the Nationals made it clear that this moment was well-earned. They even noted in their announcement, 'There are no rules that say a dog can't play baseball.' From tail-wagging dedication in the minors to headlining a major league event, Bruce the Bat Dog has truly become the Nationals' top 'paw-spect.' Also Read: Aaron Judge goes beast mode with 469-foot home run in Kansas City that almost clears the entire stadium
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