Squirrel Leads Detroit Grounds Crew On Merry Chase - Defector

What the report says

Defector reported that Monday’s Baltimore Orioles-Detroit Tigers game in Detroit was briefly overshadowed by a squirrel that wandered around the playing area for multiple innings. The Orioles won, but the article framed the animal’s extended appearance as the main spectacle, noting that MLB’s own highlight reel of the interruption ran 12 minutes.

According to Defector, the dark-colored squirrel first showed up near the warning track before moving into foul ground and then onto the shallow outfield grass. The Baltimore Banner, cited by Defector, reported that Orioles third base coach Buck Britton offered it a sunflower seed. The animal then resisted apparent attempts to steer it toward an exit near the bullpen.

By the seventh inning, the situation prompted members of the Detroit grounds crew to come onto the field. Defector said their pursuit sent the squirrel toward Orioles right fielder Leody Taveras, who tried to use his glove and unintentionally flipped it into the air. The animal was later covered with a towel and carried off the field, drawing boos from spectators who appeared to support its continued presence. Crew chief Bill Miller then asked fans to applaud the grounds crew, but the crowd booed again; by the ninth inning, fans were chanting in favor of squirrels.

Defector also cited postgame comments from Orioles figures, including manager Craig Albernaz and third baseman Coby Mayo, who treated the episode lightly. A Tigers spokesperson told the Baltimore Banner that the team understood the squirrel was healthy after removal and had been released.