ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

A.J. Pollock avoids bad karma by saving a praying mantis

Sep 4, 2016, 1:45 PM

Praying mantids and baseball go together like peanut butter and jelly, pen and paper, lock and key.

Since the Kansas City Royals adopted the Rally Mantis, the insects have begun popping up in ballparks across MLB. It was only a matter of time before one appeared in Diamondbacks land.

On Saturday, Arizona outfielder A.J. Pollock encountered a beastly looking praying mantis while in the outfield during the D-backs’ win against the Colorado Rockies.

“I don’t really pay attention to the away fans, and they told me I almost killed an innocent creature. They were saying I almost stepped on their praying mantis,” Pollock told FOX Sports Arizona’s Todd Walsh.

Knowing just what karma might come with such a result, Pollock got the mantis out of harm’s way by handing it to a fan in the Coors Field stands. The fan who took in the mantis after Pollock saved it from being squashed didn’t know what to do with it after scaring away one young boy with the bug.

This only adds to the complex recent history of mantids and baseball.

Rally Mantis is thriving in Kansas City and elsewhere, and it’s safe to say this isn’t going away anytime soon.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

8 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

11 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

15 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

18 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

20 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

21 hours ago

A.J. Pollock avoids bad karma by saving a praying mantis