Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen, in an unfortunate incident during a side session ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics, hit a bird with a throw in the outfield, leaving the bird dead on the ground. The event was broadcasted live on Diamondbacks’ broadcaster Bally Sports Arizona, and commentators noted that Gallen appeared to take a moment to recognise that the bird had died.
The incident mirrors another infamous moment in baseball history from 2001, in which former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson hit a bird with one of his pitches, resulting in an explosion of feathers and the bird’s death. Johnson, who was in the broadcast booth at the time of Gallen’s incident, has since joined the Diamondbacks front office as a special assistant.
While the speed of Johnson’s pitch was never determined, there was no verified speed for Gallen’s pitch either because it hit the bird before the catcher could get the ball. Commentators noted that the incident could be seen as a bad omen, but the Diamondbacks went on to win their game against the Athletics 5-3, adding to their season record of 25-19.
Wednesday’s incident also happened just a day before the anniversary of Johnson’s perfect game for Arizona in May 2004, adding another eerie coincidence to the already unusual event. While unfortunate, the incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports and the strange occurrences that can happen during even routine activities like game warm-ups.
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