Turbo up to new tricks in Bowling Green
It was only a matter of time before baseball's sticky stuff issue made it to the Minor Leagues. But it’s incredibly unlikely that many people expected pine tar or other grip-enhancing substances to be of extreme detriment to a fan favorite: The bat dog. Fortunately for Turbo -- the yellow
It was only a matter of time before baseball's sticky stuff issue made it to the Minor Leagues. But it’s incredibly unlikely that many people expected pine tar or other grip-enhancing substances to be of extreme detriment to a fan favorite: The bat dog.
Fortunately for Turbo -- the yellow Labrador retriever who found a home with High-A Bowling Green general manager, Eric Leach, in December of 2019 -- his experience with pine tar hasn't been quite so controversial.
“We trained him, and he can get the bat extremely well,” Leach said. “I didn't account [for] pine tar or sticky spray. So, the first bat, he went to go out and it was covered in pine tar, and he looked at the bat, he looked at me and he's like, 'I'm not picking this up.'”
After some further training, the process for retrieving the bat has gone a lot smoother for the Hot Rods’ newest front office staffer. He made his game debut on Aug. 10 and, since then, has remained a joyful presence at Bowling Green Ballpark.
For more than two decades, bat dogs have been a staple at Minor League ballparks. But Bowling Green’s participation began with a Twitter poll in Sept. 2019, which was started by social media manager Holli Hawkins while Leach was at the MiLB Innovators Summit in El Paso, Texas.
The overwhelming response to the poll left Leach with limited options.
“I started getting hounded, 'Oh, buy the team a bat dog,''' he said. “Of course, I kept saying, 'No, no, no.’ It’s like when you have kids, and they want a dog and everybody's promising they're gonna take care of it, but you know it’s going to end up being you.”
He sought permission from team owner Jack Blackstock, but not until he got the thumb’s up from his wife, Sunshine.
“Once my wife signed off on it, of course our owner was gung-ho, and we didn't even have to convince him,” Leach said.
With everyone’s approval, Leach brought Turbo home after the Winter Meetings.
Turbo made it to his new home, which he shares with a border collie, two cats and 28 chickens, and Leach went on to search for trainers who could help him become a proper bat dog. He eventually found Jake Riley and “Riley’s Retrievers,” a local service in Bowling Green that typically trains bird hunting dogs.
Riley and Turbo first worked together for three months to get him ready for the field.
“[We] utilize the same type of skill set that they do for retrieving the birds -- a series of commands and everything,” Leach said. “We were working with them prior to the 2020 cancellation of the season. So he went back for a little refresher this year.”
Y’all ready? pic.twitter.com/HKUavuQgtr
— Turbo (@HotRodsTurbo) August 5, 2021
While Turbo is coming up on his second birthday, he is still learning the trade of the bat dog. Leach, in addition to being the team’s GM, is also Turbo’s primary handler.
He’s still easing the pup into the position and only letting him out on the field at the end of an inning to make sure there’s no disruption to the game. He's made tremendous strides. Even that business with the pine tar was sorted out after some further training, and Turbo now knows to pick up the bat from the barrel.
“He's going to get it down, and the fans love it when he does,” Leach said.
The organization and community quickly grew quite fond of Turbo. A Twitter account devoted to the pup has more than 2,000 followers, and the club currently sells T-shirts and socks that commemorate the beloved canine.
Leach also added that Turbo has been something of a therapy dog for the players and fans at Bowling Green Ballpark.
“What better way to engage with fans than with a dog?” Leach said. “We had a young fan fall and get hurt and he was crying and he didn't want to be embarrassed to look at his cut, so I bring Turbo over, and the next thing you know, the kid's petting Turbo, and he's completely distracted. It's great having him around.”
Dad 🥰 pic.twitter.com/efdTpgFa6J
— Turbo (@HotRodsTurbo) July 29, 2021
While Turbo may be a source of calm at the ballpark, Leach said he has to keep an eye on the yellow lab at home, especially while the chickens are out in the yard.
“Our other dog is a border collie, and she'll actually herd the chickens and do what border collies do, but Turbo wants to keep trying to wrestle the chickens and that's not a good thing,” Leach said.
While everything has worked out very well for Turbo and all involved in Bowling Green, Leach -- an obvious animal lover -- said he’s putting his foot down on some calls for an office cat.
“That is not one they're going to win,” Leach said.
Gerard Gilberto is a reporter for MiLB.com.
MiLB podcast previews Futures Game, MLB Draft
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Podcast: New Erie identity, new ballparks, new Top 100
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most