Popular Bat Dog Goes Viral After Deciding To Play A Game Of Fetch In The Middle Of A Baseball Game

"We plan our schedule around Ripken's baseball games, football games, interviews, and photoshoots."

Damjan

• Published in Animals
• June 30, 2022

Bat dogs are the canine version of a baseball bat boy. This is the person who fetches the bats after successful hits. And bat dogs are taking this sport by storm.

Ripken has wanted to be a professional athlete since he was a young pup, and now his dream is coming true. The official "Bat Dog" for three teams, a 5-year-old black Lab, couldn't be more excited to demonstrate his skills.

“During the 2019–2020 off-season, the Durham Bulls signed Ripken to the team as their official Bat Dog and even had a signing day,” Ripken’s mom, Melissa O’Donnell, says. “Shortly thereafter, the COVID pandemic hit, canceling the entire Minor League Baseball season.”

In August 2021, Ripken made his debut as a Bat Dog. He now fetches bats for the Durham Bulls, North Carolina State Baseball, and the Holly Springs Salamanders, where he started his career with a summer league team.

“He was also offered the job as official kicking tee retriever for the North Carolina State football team, where he retrieved the kicking tee at every home game last season,” O’Donnell said. “He is now a dual-sport athlete,” she added.

Let's get to know this amazing dog a bit better:

Ripken, a 5-year-old black Lab, is a Bat Dog for three teams

For the first four innings of each home game, Ripken's father, Michael O'Donnell, remains in the dugout while the committed dog collects bats for the players. Ripken's passion for the job is not surprising. His ancestors also had a passion for retrieving.

“Ripken's dad is (the late) Cowboy Kohl, the former kicking tee retriever for the Boise State University football team,” O’Donnell said. “Cowboy Kohl passed the torch to Ripken, who debuted as the kicking tee retriever for the North Carolina State football team a few weeks later.”

"Ripken's dad is [the late] Cowboy Kohl, the former kicking tee retriever for the Boise State University football team," his human dad says.

Everyone wants to see Ripken because he is a dual-sport athlete. He has a very busy schedule.

“Usually families plan their schedules around their kids' activities,” O’Donnell said. “For us, we plan our schedule around Ripken's baseball games, football games, interviews, and photoshoots.”

Watch a video of Ripken’s Bat Dog duties captured by a GoPro camera:

Ripken spends his free time by his dad's side.

“At home, he's working with Dad in the backyard, going on hikes through the woods, or laying in his favorite bed next to his 14-year-old big brother, Bruschi,” O’Donnell said. “He also plays T-ball with the kids (fetching their bats), begs for belly rubs, and runs to the fridge every time he hears the ice dispenser.”

"We plan our schedule around Ripken's baseball games, football games, interviews and photoshoots,” he added.

“Ripken has been just the sweetest pup we could have ever imagined,” O’Donnell said.

His family is very proud of him. And they should be.

Ripken is very devoted to his family. He prefers spending time with them, despite the excitement of his work in Minor League Baseball.

“Ripken has been just the sweetest pup we could have ever imagined,” O’Donnell said. “We have truly been blessed. I pray that every dog we bring into our family in the future is just half as sweet as Ripken is. We're so proud of everything he’s done.”

This dog has all of the attributes you would expect from a true athlete and a good boy.

Damjan