ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There’s a job for everyone at the baseball stadium. Rochester’s newest furry friend knows best. Bruce the Bat Dog is set to have his big debut on the diamond Thursday evening. He’s hoping to fill some big shoes.

“He’s been training for most of his life, I like to say,” Josh Snyder, his owner, laughed and said.

The 11-month-old pup will be retrieving bats during certain Red Wings baseball games.

What You Need To Know

  • 11-month-old Bruce the Bat Dog is making his big debut at Innovative Field Thursday night

  • His owner, Josh Snyder, says he's been training his whole life for this

  • For every bat retrieved, money will be donated to the Honor Flight of Rochester and the Veterans Outreach Center of Rochester

  • Snyder's former four-legged friend, Milo the Bat Dog, passed away last May after playing with the Rochester Red Wings for four seasons

  • The team's general manager, Dan Mason, is excited the fans will have another mascot to root for from the stands

“Just like always, no offense to the players, but, this guy gets a lot of cheers," Snyder said. "So, I'm definitely anticipating a lot from the crowd, from the fans, everything like that. And, no matter what he does on the field, I think everyone's just going to love him."

Bruce and his owner have become quite the duo.

“Inseparable,” Snyder said. “We do everything together. You know, if it’s just even throwing the ball in yard, fetching bats here, going on mountain bike rides, hikes, everything like that. We’re constantly together building our relationship.”

They’re hoping to fill some big shows, after Snyder’s former four-legged friend, Milo the Bat Dog, passed away last May.

“After losing any dog, especially a dog like Milo, it’s extremely hard," he explained. "I explain it like it’s worse than losing a family member, in my opinion. They’re just always there for you. And Bruce is just that. He’s always been there for me. Milo, he definitely fed off the crowd. And I think Bruce is going to be similar in that aspect where the cheers and just overall love for a dog on the field — he's going to definitely feed into that.”

Milo was Rochester’s goodness boy for four seasons. Each bat he retrieved meant money donated to local nonprofits. Bruce will be continuing the tradition and for each bat, money will go towards the Honor Flight of Rochester and the Veterans Outreach Center of Rochester.

“I’m just so excited to continue that partnership with the Red Wings," Snyder said. "And here I am with Bruce."

Snyder has trained Bruce himself. He’s preparing for any outcomes, especially the fun ones.

“I prepare for all scenarios," he explained. "[An] umpire throwing the ball, catcher on the field, dropping whatever it is. Like I said, I just try to prepare Bruce for all those game-day distractions as best as I can. No matter what he does, I know that the crowd's just going to love him.”

“Whether the Wings win or lose, we can't control that," Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason said. "We try to control if people have a great time. And Bruce adds an element of fun that only he can do."

“A dog in the dugout, I think brings their spirits up, no matter what the scoreboard reads,” Snyder said. “Baseball and dogs, who doesn’t love that?”

Gates open Thursday at 5 p.m. and the first 500 fans will receive Bruce replica jerseys. The game starts at 6:05 p.m. You can find tickets here.