Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen has gone viral on social media after he accidentally killed a bird during a pitch.
Gallen narrowly emulates Hall of Famer, Randy Johnsonknown among many things for literally plucking a bird in full flight.
The Diamondbacks pitcher was throwing warm-up pitches in right field ahead of Wednesday’s game with the Oakland Athletics, when something deflected the ball.
Gallen threw a curveball and hit a passing bird flying exactly at that moment, and upon impact, the bird died.
“I really don’t know what happened. I only know that the ball really changed direction. I didn’t see what happened. It’s a freak and unfortunate accident,” the pitcher said in a postgame interview.
The event was captured in a video of the Bally Sports chain of Arizona, and the audiovisual went viral on social networks, because of how surprising it was.
In 2001 legendary pitcher Randy Johnson killed a bird during an encounter spring training.
Right on a pitch against the San Francisco Giants a bird flew in front of the mound and was literally plucked on the spot.
Gallen was alluded to that moment in Johnson’s career and responded: I don’t remember it as a kid, but I’ve seen the clip many times“.
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