Guardians OF Will Brennan hits grounder that accidentally kills bird vs. White Sox
Another week, another bird death in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Will Brennan hit a grounder that collided with a bird sitting between second and third base during the second inning of a game against the Chicago White Sox. The bird appeared to be killed instantly by the 100.1 mph ball and was taken off the field by a member of the grounds crew with a shovel.
It's hard to see at first, but the bird can be spotted when the camera cuts to Brennan on second base.
For the second time in less than a week, a bird has been hit on a baseball field. pic.twitter.com/TN1GdqR7bK
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 22, 2023
Brennan later apologized on Twitter for the accidental killing.
"I truly am sorry @peta and bird enthusiasts," Brennan wrote. "An unfortunate sacrifice."
The Guardians went on to beat the White Sox 3-0. Brennan's only hit in his three at-bats was the one that killed the bird.
Second bird death in a week
Six days ago, Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen hit a bird with a warm-up pitch before a road game against the Oakland Athletics. That sparked instant comparisons to the infamous pitch by Randy Johnson, which killed a bird mid-flight during a spring training game in 2001.
Coincidentally, both Brennan's Guardians and Gallen's Diamondbacks won their respective games, despite striking and killing wandering animals.