Tulsa Driller Pitchers Take Up The Baton As Team Batboys Amid Pandemic

One of the many unsung heroes around the Tulsa Driller Stadium are the batboys. 

This season, teams aren't allowed to have the traditional batboy, so some Drillers pitchers have made the shift from the bullpen for some extra duty. No one has a better seat inside ONEOK Field than the batboy.  

Due to the pandemic, the coveted role has been filled by Drillers pitchers - and it seems the boys are having some extra fun taking on another job.

"When you got girls and they see us picking up bats, it doesn't go to well for you, to be honest. When you got kids asking ball boy ball boy, I'm like ok, I work out every day to throw a ball and they are calling me the ball boy," said Driller pitcher John Rooney.

Batboys due have a lot of work to do on the field, from shagging balls to retrieving bats and Rooney understands job isn't for everybody.

“Not everybody can do it, they train golden retrievers do it, but not everybody can do it, said Rooney.

"My first foul ball I tripped on the stairs,” said Driller Pitcher Gus Varland. “I consider myself an athlete, but I just messed up at that point.”

Bragging rights are also up for grabs when Drillers pitchers are doing their second job

"Off the net and we catch it: $10 and also half off beers tonight if we catch one," said Rooney.

Catching the ball of the net is easier said than done.

"Zero dollars, it’s harder than you think, it really is. You just got to time it up perfectly and sometimes you can get weird bounces," said Rooney.

For the pitchers that are playing the part of batboy this summer, they understand this probably won't ever happen again. So, every time they get a ball or a bat, they are embracing it.

"I don't mind, if it keeps you humble, makes you look that much forward to going out and throwing again," said Rooney.

“It’s a good way to stay locked into the ball game. Not exactly what I wanted to be doing in the ball game when I'm locked in, I would rather be chopping it up with the boys, but I will take it," said Driller pitcher Ryan Pepiot.

The Drillers continue their homestand Friday night against the Midland Rockhounds.