A minor league baseball game turned into a moment of messy mayhem on Sunday after an unexpected interruption from the home team’s beloved bat dog. Fans at Atrium Health Ballpark watched in disbelief as a Kannapolis Cannon Ballers staffer picked up dog poop, barehanded, just feet from home plate.
The now-viral scene unfolded in the bottom of the third inning during the Cannon Ballers’ game against the Carolina Mudcats. As the de facto team mascot had a bathroom emergency near the batter’s box, all eyes turned from the pitch to the pile. What happened next had fans gagging and laughing in equal parts.
Cleanup On Aisle Home Plate
Without gloves, a bag, or even a towel in sight, a stadium employee stepped up and scooped the mess with nothing but his bare hands. No hesitation. No tools. Just straight-up grit- or, depending on your point of view, a serious lapse in judgment.
That's one hell of a shit
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 13, 2025
(via @BallersBatDog) pic.twitter.com/INUlK9OzkV
Spectators on social media were quick to react. “Fire the guy who picked up s*** with his bare hands immediately,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Fire the guy who picked up shit with his bare hands immediately
— James Nolan (@JamesNolanFS) May 14, 2025
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Another added, “Ayoooo he bare handed that grounder??” The short clip of the incident began circulating within hours, drawing a mix of laughter and concern from fans nationwide.
Ayoooo he bare handed that grounder??
— Enormous James (@RealEnormous) May 14, 2025
The Cannon Ballers, undeterred by the canine chaos, went on to shut out the Mudcats with a 3-0 win. As for the heroic, or unfortunate, employee, there’s been no public statement from him or the team. It’s also unclear whether the stadium provided any sanitizer or backup after the cleanup.
While most minor league games lean into their quirky charm, this one served up something no one expected. The Cannon Ballers are known for their fan-first entertainment, but Sunday’s moment may have pushed that envelope a bit too far.
Still, it’s all part of the unpredictable magic of minor league baseball, where between the strikes and the mascots, sometimes it’s the most unexpected plays that grab the attention. And if there’s one takeaway from this game, it’s simple: always keep gloves on deck, especially when there’s a bat dog in the lineup.
