GREENSBORO, N.C. — Minor League Baseball is back, and teams across the state are preparing for their home openers. A special member of one minor league team is putting in some extra work to get ready for a new season.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Greensboro Grasshoppers bat dog Willie Mae is already a pro at running the bases, fetching bats and carrying her ball bucket to home plate
  • Team president and general manager Donald Moore said the team’s bat dogs play a special part in the experience for families
  • The Greensboro Grasshoppers' home opener is scheduled for April 8

 

At only 1 year old, Greensboro Grasshoppers bat dog Willie Mae is already a pro at running the bases, fetching bats and carrying her ball bucket to home plate. Team president and general manager Donald Moore said he wants to help create memories for families who come to the games, and his dogs play a big part in the experience.

“There’s been a team or two out there in America over the years that had a dog, but I don’t know if any of them have had dogs that do as much as our dogs do. It’s family entertainment. A lot of families have dogs and it seemed like it’d be a good marriage, and people love it,” Moore said.

Moore said it’s been a while since a bat dog took to the field. He is looking forward to bringing the adored tradition back this season, especially after the curve balls of the last few years.

“We didn’t have dogs last year for two reasons," Moore said. "One, COVID and restrictions that were imposed, and two, Little Jackie just didn’t have any interest. You can’t just order one up, you know?”

He said Little Jackie Robinson now reigns as the front office dog, and based on Willie Mae’s performance in practice, she’ll be a surefire home run as a Greensboro Grasshoppers bat dog. Working with Willie Mae brings back good memories of the ones who took to the field before her; Miss Babe Ruth, Master Yogi Berra and Miss Lou Lou Gehrig.

“I mean you look back on it… somebody was in first grade when Miss Babe Ruth first started. That’s 16 years ago. They’ve graduated college. That’s hard to believe. It’s been a long time, and hopefully we get quite a few more years out of Miss Willie Mae here,” Moore said.

Several teams across North Carolina are preparing for their home openers on April 8, including the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Winston-Salem Dash, the Carolina Mudcats and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The Charlotte Knights, Durham Bulls, Asheville Tourists, Hickory Crawdads, the Down East Wood Ducks and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers will have their home openers on April 12.