Ballpark Squirrel Spectacle
Black Squirrel Halts Tigers-Orioles Game, Sparks Grounds Crew Chase and Cheers at Comerica Park
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Key Points
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Buck Britton, Orioles' third-base coach, contributed to the squirrel’s fixation by tossing seeds in its direction and even taking a sunflower seed from his mouth to feed the animal.
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The chase involved roughly 20 adult groundskeepers, illustrating how the field interruption turned into a full-scale, organized pursuit rather than a simple cleanup.
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Broadcast calls amplified the moment, with Detroit’s Jason Benetti delivering theatrical play-by-play and Baltimore’s crew sharing in the laughter as the squirrel eluded the chase.
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Umpire Bill Miller acknowledged the disruption by publicly thanking the grounds crew during a pause in play, signaling a rare, crowd-pleasing moment of sportsmanship amid the chaos.
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The intruding scene even sparked a fan interaction in the stands, with Tigers mascot PAWS displaying a 'Free the Squirrel' sign as the crowd reacted.
A black squirrel stormed Comerica Park during a Detroit Tigers-Baltimore Orioles game, turning a routine baseball night into a full-scale wildlife spectacle. The critter roamed the warning track, paused near the Orioles' third-base coach, and sent roughly 20 groundskeepers sprinting across the outfield in pursuit, according to Yahoo Sports.
Crews eventually corralled the squirrel using a towel and removed it from the field. The moment drew loud cheers and became one of the most talked-about interruptions in recent Tigers history, per MLB.com.
Orioles Coach Feeds Squirrel Sunflower Seeds Mid-Game
Orioles third-base coach Buck Britton made the situation much worse — in the best way. He tossed seeds toward the squirrel to keep it nearby. At one point, he took a sunflower seed directly from his own mouth and offered it to the animal. The squirrel obliged, stopping near the coach as if it belonged on the field.
The squirrel's willingness to hang around the third-base coach gave it a starring role. What could have been a quick 30-second removal stretched into several minutes of pure chaos. The crowd loved every second of it.
20 Groundskeepers Sprint Across Outfield in Wild Chase
The grounds crew did not hold back. About 20 adults fanned out across the field in an organized pursuit of one very small squirrel. The chase covered the full warning track before the crew finally used a towel to box the animal in and carry it off the field, according to New York Post.
Umpire Bill Miller paused play during the commotion. When the crew finally succeeded, Miller publicly thanked them on the field — a rare, crowd-pleasing moment from an umpire. Fans erupted in applause.
Jason Benetti Delivers Theatrical Play-by-Play for the Ages
Detroit broadcaster Jason Benetti treated the squirrel like a star player. He delivered full play-by-play of the chase, with rising drama and genuine excitement in his voice. Baltimore's broadcast crew joined in the laughter. The call quickly spread online and became a highlight of its own, per Yahoo Sports.
Tigers mascot PAWS also got in on the fun. From the stands, PAWS held up a sign reading 'Free the Squirrel,' drawing more laughs from the crowd. The moment felt less like a game delay and more like a bonus entertainment act.
Comerica Park Has a Recurring Black Squirrel Problem
This was not a one-time visit. A black squirrel — possibly the same one — had already appeared at Comerica Park in May 2025. That earlier sighting went largely unnoticed. This time, the squirrel came back with a bigger audience and far more ambition, according to New York Post.
Comerica Park sits in downtown Detroit. Black squirrels are common in the area. But two field invasions in the same season suggests the park may have a returning visitor on its hands. Fans are already wondering if the squirrel will make a third appearance.
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