Spring training baseball is back, which means we’re due for the latest baseball-meets-wildlife encounter.
Now, when it comes to Cactus League baseball in Arizona, those encounters often consist of a bunch of bees interrupting games. But, thankfully, Sunday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks did not involve bees.
It did, however, feature a goose making itself at home in the outfield at Salt River Fields.
Players and coaches on both teams had their eyes focused on center field as a goose settled in on the grass behind Rafael Ortega and basically refused to leave. This goose even defended its territory against another goose.
It was quite the scene.
There is just something about @Dbacks and birds.@Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega should most definitely WATCH HIS BACK.
(See end of video). pic.twitter.com/LyHohbfmpm
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) March 7, 2021
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was impressed with how much ground that goose could cover, so there was that.
Torey is keeping an eye on the goose. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/p7REmps0Ak
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) March 7, 2021
And, of course, there were jokes.
Heard this new Cubs defender can really fly. pic.twitter.com/bzljKnoQ9t
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 7, 2021
I wonder if there were any fowl balls… https://t.co/zYR0LLcYHO
— Robbie Hoy (@RobbieHoy) March 7, 2021
Luckily the #Cubs have some expertise on such fowl matters. https://t.co/qbuyB8Emps pic.twitter.com/PXQGAesO4q
— 𝕊𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕪 ℂ𝕦𝕓𝕤 𝔽𝕒𝕟 (@CubsSalty) March 7, 2021
But can you really blame the goose? The weather is great in Arizona this weekend, and a big-league baseball field seems like a decently nice spot for a goose to do goose things. The goose can stay.
