Overview
- A black squirrel ran onto the field at Comerica Park and spent about an inning roaming the warning track and outfield on Monday, July 27, drawing attention after Orioles third-base coach Buck Britton tossed it seeds.
- Roughly a dozen to 15 Tigers grounds crew members entered the field during the seventh-inning stretch and repeatedly tried to corral the animal with towels before finally catching it.
- Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras briefly trapped the squirrel in his glove and accidentally launched it into the air during the chase, and one crew member ultimately wrapped the animal in a towel and carried it off the field.
- Broadcaster Jason Benetti’s excited play-by-play, fan reactions including boos and a mascot sign reading “Free the squirrel,” and circulating video made the episode go viral.
- The capture did not change the game result — the Orioles won 8–5 — and a Tigers spokesperson said the team’s understanding is that the squirrel was released in fine health; Comerica Park has seen similar black-squirrel sightings in past seasons.