Beekeeper Matt Hilton Throws Ceremonial First Pitch After Saving Baseball Game from Swarm of Bees
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers faced an unexpected delay on Tuesday when thousands of bees swarmed the top of the home plate netting at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The game was put on hold as officials scrambled to find a solution to the bee invasion.
Enter Matt Hilton, the hero of the day. A seasoned beekeeper, Hilton was called in to handle the situation. Riding out onto the field in a bullpen cart, Hilton used a scissor lift to reach the swarm of bees. With precision and expertise, he sprayed and vacuumed up the bees for relocation, ensuring the safety of fans and players.
In a surprising turn of events, the Diamondbacks honored Hilton by inviting him to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in his beekeeping gear. Despite his best efforts, Hilton admitted that his pitch veered off course, joking that he won’t be drafted anytime soon.
Hilton explained that the swarm had broken off from a larger colony and had randomly chosen Chase Field as their new home. He emphasized the importance of moving the bees to prevent any potential danger to those in the stadium.
The baseball world has embraced Hilton’s unexpected role in the game delay. The Salt Lake Bees even joined in on the fun with a playful post on social media. Additionally, Topps announced that they would be producing autograph cards featuring Hilton and the bee swarm, allowing fans to commemorate this unique moment in baseball history.
As Hilton’s unexpected foray into baseball continues to make headlines, one thing is clear – when bees cause a buzz at the ballpark, Matt Hilton is the man to call.