Cleveland rookie kills bird with 100 mph line drive in ‘unfortunate sacrifice’

Cleveland’s rookie outfielder Will Brennan hit a hard grounder that accidentally killed a bird that had wandered on to the infield grass during the Guardians’ 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

In the second inning, Brennan, a left-handed hitter, went the other way with a fastball from Chicago’s Jesse Scholtens. The liner connected with the small bird, which had wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time.

The ball, clocked at 100.1 mph, sent the bird flying, and when Brennan got to first he reacted by putting his hands on his helmet and grimacing. Umpires called time, allowing a member of the groundcrew to remove the dead bird with a shovel.

After the game, Brennan posted an apology on Twitter to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

“I truly am sorry @peta and bird enthusiasts,” Brennan wrote. “An unfortunate sacrifice.”

It’s the second time in a week that a major league player has unintentionally killed a bird.

Last week, Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen accidentally struck and killed a bird while warming up in the outfield before the Diamondbacks played the Oakland Athletics. Gallen threw a curveball that hit the bird in midflight.

Gallen’s shot brought to mind Arizona Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, who killed a bird that flew in front of one of the left-hander’s fastballs during a spring training game in 2001.