Baby Kangaroo Attends First Baseball Game in South Carolina

A baby kangaroo experiencing her first baseball game sounds like something from a children's book, but it actually happened this week in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Roxy, a 10-month-old kangaroo, joined the usual crowd of tail-wagging dogs at the Spartanburgers' Waggy Wednesday promotion. Owner Morgan Meeks bundled the little joey in blankets to keep her warm in the 55-degree weather while she watched the High-A Rangers affiliate take on Greenville.

"She is loving it," Meeks told the team's broadcast assistant midway through the game. "She took a little bit of a nap, but we gave her her bottle, and now she's enjoying every second of it."

Roxy looked picture perfect in her Spartanburgers bandanna, occasionally peeking out from her pile of blankets to watch the action. The team won 4-1, making her stadium debut even sweeter.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Right-handed pitcher Joey Danielson plays for the Spartanburgers (Joey is the name for a baby kangaroo). Even better, outfielder Antonis Macias hit his first homer of the season with Roxy in attendance, just months after playing in the Australian Baseball League.

"It was just fate," Meeks said. "She helped him."

Sunny's Take

Roxy isn't alone at home. Meeks cares for seven other kangaroos, with four more on the way. The heartwarming visit has already inspired ideas for future animal guests at the ballpark.

Team broadcasting manager Ian Unsworth is already making calls to arrange a peacock appearance in two weeks. He's even proposed a kangaroo parade, similar to the dog parade that kicks off every Waggy Wednesday.

The Spartanburgers had no idea a marsupial would show up to their Wednesday game, coming right after they hosted cats on Tuesday. But that's the beauty of minor league baseball, where creativity and community come together in the most unexpected ways.

Sometimes the best moments hop into your life when you least expect them.