During Tuesday’s walk-off win over the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister unfortunately mistook the bat boy for one of his players during the celebration.
The life of a bat boy in Major League Baseball can be a rewarding experience for a few lucky young men and women. They get to wear an honorary uniform and rub shoulders with the players during games, they get to appear on national television whenever the umpire needs a refill, and they are otherwise are part of the team for a day at a time.
However, said place on the team apparently doesn’t extend to celebrations. Those are reserved for those guys who actually helped grind out a win.
When the Texas Rangers secured first place in the American League West thanks to a walk-off sacrifice fly from Mitch Moreland, everyone on the team was understandable excited. None more so than Rangers manager Jeff Banister, who pounced from dugout with his arms raised in triumph. However, after turning around to hug his team, he was first greeted by a bright-eyed young lad just looking for a high five and a hug. Well, he got the high-five, but the hug attempt resulted in a not-so-friendly push-off from Banister when he realized who it was.
Needless to say, that kid isn’t going to be very comfortable when he looks for a hug again. Maybe he was trying to find some misplaced love that he isn’t getting at home. Needless to say, he won’t be approaching Bannister for that good feeling ever again.
Walk-offs are a great feeling, but it is apparently not a place for bat boys.
(h/t CBS Sports)
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