Dog Who Retrieves Bats At Baseball Games Always Gets The Loudest Cheers
Meet Champ — the very good boy carrying on a legendary legacy and absolutely stealing the show while doing it.
As the younger brother of the late, great Ripken the Bat Dog, Champ has stepped up in a big way. He’s now the official Bat Dog for the Durham Bulls and also serves as the Kicking Tee Retriever for NC State Wolfpack football.
And yes — this is exactly what it sounds like.
Champ’s job? Wait for the batter to finish… sprint to home plate… grab the bat with his perfectly trained “soft mouth”… and proudly trot it back to the dugout like it’s the most normal thing in the world. No fuss. No drama. Just pure professional excellence.
Before taking over in Durham, Champ got his start with the Holly Springs Salamanders in 2024, proving early on that he was born for the big leagues. Now he’s scheduled for multiple appearances throughout the 2025 season — and fans are absolutely here for it.
In fact, he’s become such a crowd favorite that people cheer when he appears… and even boo if a player or bat boy forgets to let him do his job. That’s when you know you’ve made it.
Social media can’t get enough of him either. Some say watching Champ in action is the reason they’d go to a game at all. Others admit they’d buy season tickets just to see him run out, do his job perfectly, and trot back like the happiest teammate on the field.
And honestly, they’re not wrong.
Champ isn’t just adorable — he’s focused, fast, and completely dialed into his role. He knows exactly when to go, how to avoid the play, and how to make a stadium full of people erupt into applause in under 10 seconds.
It’s safe to say… he’s not just a bat dog. He’s a fan favorite, a viral star, and a four-legged reminder that sometimes the best player on the field doesn’t swing a bat at all.
Watch his older brother Ripkin in action here.
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