Turtle in Outfield Briefly Halts Minor League Baseball Game in Florida

Patrick Andres | May 11, 2024

Megan Smith, Megan Smith / USA TODAY

During Saturday's Single-A Florida State League game between the Bradenton Marauders and the visitng St. Lucie Mets, the home team held a promotion sponsored by a local museum of science and nature.

As it turns out, one critter took that promotion a bit too far.

With the Mets up 2–0 in the top of the second inning, play was briefly halted by a turtle scurrying around the outfield.

"We have some type of creature on the field," the game's announcer said in video posted to social media by the Marauders. "A squirrel, or a rodent, I don’t know. What do we have there? It's a turtle."

A TURTLE STOPPAGE AT LECOM PARK!!! pic.twitter.com/Hx7UUgr5Hb

— Bradenton Marauders (@The_Marauders) May 11, 2024

Bradenton left fielder Esmerlyn Valdez signaled for someone to come catch the surprisingly fast-moving turtle before the Marauders' two other outfielders joined in on the chase. Eventually, pitcher Magdiel Cotto saved the day, holding the turtle aloft and carrying it into the bullpen to cheers from the crowd.