Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Kendall George was subjected to mocking dog barking noises from an opposing team during his return to the field on June 24. George, the Dodgers' No. 13 overall prospect, had been sidelined with a left patellar tendon injury sustained on May 26.
Freak Injury and Suspension
The injury occurred during a game with the Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers when George had to dodge a bat dog running onto the field. The evasive maneuver resulted in a visible leg injury, and George was placed on the seven-day injured list the following day. In response to the incident, the Dodgers temporarily suspended their bat-dog program.
George, who was hitting .328 with a .801 OPS and 26 stolen bases in 44 games this season prior to the injury, returned to play on June 24 with the Single-A affiliate Ontario Tower Buzzers. The injury kept him out for approximately one month.
Opponent's Taunts
During his first at-bat in the June 24 game against the Visalia Rawhide, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the opposing team played sounds of dogs barking. This action was widely interpreted as an attempt to mock George's unusual injury.
A video of the incident was shared on social media, garnering significant attention. The taunts appeared to affect George's performance in his return game. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, including striking out with the bases loaded to end an inning.