Victor Robles was a center fielder for the Washington Nationals baseball team. During a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 2, 2021, Victor had an unlikely friend helping him in the field and the dugout. A praying mantis perched itself atop Victor’s baseball hat and had a front-row seat for the game.
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The praying mantis is a majestic insect about four inches long and bright green. It gets its name because of its long front legs. When standing, it looks as if the bug is praying. This one joined the ball game during the ninth inning when it jumped onto Victor’s head in the dugout area. Victor didn’t seem to mind the extra weight or the company. The praying mantis seemed comfortable, remaining on the baseball cap even as the Nationals took the field.
Standing out in center field, Victor told teammates they had one out. He took a second to update the tenth player on his cap. Play continued and the praying mantis held tight. Both MLB teams now laughingly refer to the visitor as the “Rally Mantis.” Unfortunately for the Nationals, the rally occurred for the Phillies, who went on to win the game.
Stray animals are not new to baseball. Many games have experienced brief timeouts from birds, cats, dogs, and bees. The brief respite from play usually lands in a TikTok video compilation so fans everywhere can laugh about the animal antics.
Victor Robles is now playing for the Seattle Mariners, but this praying mantis moment in baseball will live on in our memories forever. No penalties were issued for having an illegal player on the field. We hope you enjoyed revisiting this hilarious moment. Please share.
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