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MLB's bird-killing epidemic knows no bounds

By Gerrit Ritt | Last updated 5/22/23

Another day, another bird senselessly murdered on a Major League Baseball field.

We've witnessed it before, and we were mortified. We thought it was a one-off. Then we recently saw it again. And now, a third high-profile incident of on-field aviary assassinry. This time, it came courtesy of Guardians outfielder Will Brennan during Monday night's game against the White Sox.

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 22, 2023

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

This time, the bird in question was — dare I say — a sitting duck. Rather than hitting a moving object, Brennan's batted ball struck the bird while he was taking a break from flying and perched squarely in the infield grass.

Just last week, it was a different situation, when Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen was warming up in the outfield before a game when his seemingly innocent off-speed toss instead turned into a 90mph missile of death, striking a bird in mid-flight.

Zac Gallen really hit a bird with a curveball. pic.twitter.com/T6XOZudoMH
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 17, 2023

Of course, all this comes nearly 22 years ago to the day after the infamous spring training fastball uncorked by Randy Johnson that seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime freak of nature, but suddenly seems to be merely a portal into a brand new world of fowl play around Major League killing fields.

Will our national nightmare ever end? Or are more birds only waiting to succumb to this nation's growing epidemic of featheracide? Orioles, Blue Jays and Cardinals everywhere better watch their back.

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