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The Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate, are suspending their bat dog program after an injury to outfielder Kendall George, as reported by MSN. The Drillers’ bat dog tradition has been a fan-favorite element of the gameday experience in Tulsa for years, but the program is now on hold following the incident involving one of the organization’s promising young players.

George is a name Dodgers fans following the farm system should know. The outfielder has been working his way through the organization’s minor league ranks, and landing at Double-A Tulsa represented a significant step in his development. Any injury at this stage matters — not just for the player’s health, but for his developmental timeline. The specifics of the injury and its severity have not been fully detailed in initial reporting, but the fact that the Drillers took the step of suspending the entire bat dog program suggests the organization is treating this seriously. That’s the right call.

For those unfamiliar, the Drillers’ bat dog program has been one of the more charming traditions in minor league baseball. Dogs — typically golden retrievers or similar breeds — retrieve bats from home plate during games. It’s a beloved part of the Tulsa experience and something that sets minor league ball apart. But when a player gets hurt in connection with the program, entertainment has to take a back seat to player safety. Full stop.

From a Dodgers organizational standpoint, this is the kind of thing that gets attention at the major league level even though it happened in Double-A. Player safety across the entire system is something the front office monitors closely, and I’d expect Andrew Friedman’s group to be fully aware of the situation. We don’t yet know whether George’s injury will cost him significant time or whether this is more of a precautionary response, but we’ll be tracking updates as they come.

The Drillers doing the right thing here — pausing the program immediately rather than waiting — reflects well on the organization. Bat dogs are fun. Protecting your prospects is more important. We’ll update this story when more details on George’s status become available.

Source(s): MSN | First reported: May 30, 2026 3:54 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers