Baseball, a game of inches and timeless tradition, often delivers scenes of pure, unscripted theater. At times, these are the stories of unexpected twists, particularly when nature intervenes. The newest chapter came during Cincinnati Reds batting practice, where a bizarre incident captured MLB fans’ attention, sparking a wide range of online chatter. It’s another curious footnote in baseball’s long and quirky history with animal encounters.

It happened on Monday, May 19, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. An unnamed Reds player hit a sharp line drive during pre-game batting practice. Unfortunately, a pigeon got in the way of the ball. It reportedly left the bird in “critical condition” and “not in a good shape.” Others went so far as to call it a “life-altering event, perhaps even life-ending.” This unfortunate collision happened before the Reds’ game against the home team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite the somber prelude to the game, the Reds showed remarkable focus. They beat the Pirates 7-1 handily, marking their fifth straight victory. Reds starter Nick Lodolo, a left-hander, put together a steady six innings, allowing one run and securing the win. On the offensive side, Austin Hays and TJ Friedl had three hits each. Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux also made significant contributions, each driving in two runs for the successful Reds.

The win pushed the Reds to a 25-24 record, placing them third in the NL Central. Their offense has been potent, ranking 8th in runs scored and 4th in stolen bases. Meanwhile, the Pirates’ struggles continued as it has been through a season. Their devastating loss at the hands of the Reds dropped them to a 15-33 record: the worst in the NL Central. What’s even more alarming is that this marked their 17th loss in the last 21 games. They hoped to have things turn around for the better with the recent managerial change, but Don Kelly couldn’t do the miracle. Since he took over, the Pirates went 3-7.

While the Reds celebrated the impressive win, their attention was rather towards the unusual off-field incident that captured the fans’ imagination. And there were certainly quite interesting reactions.

The Reds incident: A flock of fan reactions

It doesn’t take long for anything to make a buzz these days on the internet. So, as expected, the digital world again buzzed instantly, reflecting a spectrum of emotions. Many fans expressed immediate shock and concern for the unfortunate bird.

One simple, yet telling, reaction captured this initial feeling perfectly: “Oh jeez.” This exclamation, found across social media, summed up the collective gasp. It’s a natural response to witnessing such an unexpected and rather grim event. Sadly, this wasn’t even the first avian casualty at PNC Park recently. In September 2024, Royals second baseman Michael Massey also struck a bird there during batting practice, making this a repeat occurrence even more jarring for some onlookers.

Amidst the concern, a touch of humor and social media savvy also emerged. Some fans have adopted fictional online personas for animals frequenting ballparks. One such fan, likely with a favorite feathered friend in mind, tweeted, “I’m glad it wasn’t you @FieldPigeon!” This comment playfully hints at the online world where animals become characters. It’s a common way for fans to engage, creating lighthearted narratives around these unexpected ballpark visitors. Think of the ‘Rally Pigeon‘ at Nationals Park in 2017; this tweet echoes that sentiment, hoping a favored ‘digital’ bird was safe.

Of course, baseball fans have long memories, and certain infamous incidents came to mind immediately. A common refrain seen online was, “Randy Johnson having flashbacks.” This is a direct nod to the unforgettable 2001 spring training game. Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, then with the Arizona Diamondbacks, famously obliterated a mourning dove with a fastball. The image of feathers exploding is etched in baseball lore. This Reds incident, and even Zac Gallen’s similar mishap in 2023, keep Johnson’s unique moment alive in discussions.

The world of baseball movies also provided a source for humorous comparison. One fan cleverly chimed in with, “Someone call Pedro Cerano!!!” This is a fantastic reference to Pedro Cerrano, the voodoo-practicing power hitter from the classic 1989 movie Major League. In the sequel, Major League II, Cerrano hilariously strikes a pigeon with a double. He then attempts CPR on the bird, only to be tagged out. This fan’s comment perfectly captures that cinematic absurdity, drawing a witty parallel to the real-life drama.

Finally, some fans recalled instances where such accidents had more serious, even legal, consequences. One historically aware fan commented, “Good thing he wasn’t in Canada…might have been arrested. (See Dave Winfield circa 1983).” This brings up the 1983 incident in Toronto involving Yankees great Dave Winfield. He accidentally killed a seagull with a warm-up throw and was actually taken to a police station and charged with animal cruelty, though the charges were later dropped.

This highlights how times have changed, as the Reds player involved in this recent incident remained unnamed, with no blame assigned.