Minor Leaguer makes over-the-shoulder catch to win playoff game, spikes baseball (VIDEO)

The Columbus Clippers (Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate), who won a close Game 1 of the International League Finals by a score of 6-5 on Tuesday night,  found themselves in another nail biter on Wednesday. Their opponent, the Indianapolis Indians, were threatening with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning. On an 0-2 pitch, batter Willy Garcia crushed one seemingly over center fielder Tyler Holt's head.

But somehow, with an amazing over-the-shoulder catch, Holt hauled in the baseball and ended the game. 

And a jubilant Holt celebrated like he was Gronk crossing the goal line.

The best-of-five series continues Thursday night.

Reds minor leaguer plays all nine positions in one game (VIDEO)

When the Pensacola Blue Wahoos — Cincinnati's Double-A affiliate — clinched their division with one game to go, there was a pretty good chance that some players would get a rest. But instead of taking the day off, shortstop Ray Chang took the opportunity to play all nine positions, a different one each inning.

It all started when Chang walked into the locker room and was given a choice by his manager, Pat Kelly: Take the day off or be a jack of all trades. Chang's decision to play led to a stint at first base, and then, like running the bases around the diamond, next came second base, then short, then third, then the outfield. Check out the boxscore:

The only problem arose when Chang was called in to catch Pensacola closer Zack Weiss — the league leader in saves and the owner of a mid-90s fastball.

"Catching [was the hardest] by far," Chang said after the game. "The hardest part about it is when the ball's in the strike zone, you know that guy's going to swing, but you have to keep focused on the ball and not the bat coming through the zone."

Chang made it through OK, though, and even tossed a clean ninth inning:

Oh yeah. Chang also went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run.

Take that Will Ferrell.

Wiener dog escapes, runs wild through minor league park (VIDEO)

The El Paso Chihuahuas  hosted the Wiener Schnitzel Weenie Dog Race on Sunday but watch what happened when one of the elongated pups escaped its people and made a break for it.

An adorable dachshund (the breed that looks like a Dr. Seuss drawing) took flight during the event in which the San Diego Padres AAA affiliate staged a race to find out once and for all who was “the fastest wiener in El Paso.”

The happy pooch took a advantage of its freedom and ran roughshod throughout the ball park — eluding handlers and players on his unauthorized tour.

A WIENER DOG IS ON THE FIELD! http://t.co/Wi2afXvxhb https://t.co/pzUia3fMZJ

— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 31, 2015

Here's the whole video of the hot dog madness:

Mets' Triple-A team abandons dugout after sewage overflow (PHOTOS)

Stinking up the joint is a term used pretty often in sports, but never has it been so appropriate as to what happened during a Triple-A baseball game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas Saturday night.

Only this time it had nothing to do with play on the field when a game between the Las Vegas 51s (Mets) and the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) was disrupted after sewage from the locker rooms overflowed into both dugouts.

Sewer has backed up into both dugouts at Cashman Field. Oh and 51s trail 4-3 in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/82sH8g4bAf

— #LV51s (@LasVegas51s) August 23, 2015

The problem got so bad the Las Vegas players ended up sitting up outside the dugout.

51s players couldn't take it. Sitting outside the dugout like its a Spring Training game. pic.twitter.com/Va7AZoabSo

— #LV51s (@LasVegas51s) August 23, 201

Let's just say the 51s came out smelling like victory after a 9-5 win.

Yankees prospect Slade Heathcott makes a spectacular home run robbing catch (VIDEO)

Slade Heathcott had a taste of the big time when he played six games with the Yankees back in May and did things like this:

Heathcott is currently in Triple-A with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders working his way back from an injury, where he continues to do things to help him get back to The Show.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday night, robbed Rochester Red Wings' Xavier Avery of a home run with this spectacular leaping grab against the fence preserving the 0-0 tie.



The future of Yankees baseball is looking pretty good.

Minor league game postponed due to circus tent (PHOTO)

A game between the High Class-A Tampa Yankees and Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) was postponed Friday night, but not because of rain or wet grounds — it was because the circus was in town.

After some consideration by officials at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the game was postponed because of a circus tent. The circus parked across the street had a colorful tent with bright lights, and unfortunately it was right in the sight-line of the batters. 

Second shot pic.twitter.com/JojgbiK80N

— Josh Handler (@JoshHandler) August 7, 2015

Hitters need to be able to see the pitch coming at them, not only so they can hit it, but so they can get out of the way if it's going to hit them — and some of those young hurlers do have a tendency to get a little wild.

Here's the view without the tent.

The irony? It was always a circus when The Boss was in the house. 

Minor League team gives out free back waxes on the dugout during game

During Thursday night's Double-A matchup between the Trenton Thunder and Bowie Baysox, four men got their backs waxed on top of the dugout.

Crazy but ... it is beach season.

The Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the nearby Orioles, hosted "Back Hair Appreciation Night" on Thursday, forgoing more traditional promotions like free food or jerseys.

The Baysox did end up winning the game, 4-3. 

And now they can use the swatches of man hair to fill in those bald spots on the field.

Minor league team unveils SpongeBob SquarePants uniforms (PHOTO)

Baseball just can't seem to get enough of these novelty promotional jerseys this summer, and just a week after the Fresno Grizzlies became the Fresno Tacos for one tasty night, now, Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate -—the Norfolk Tides — have unveiled their new SpongeBob SquarePants uniforms.

The jerseys will be auctioned off during the game, with proceeds benefiting the United Way of South Hampton Roads.

No word if they will be selling Krabby Patties, but just imagine if they came with Krusty Krab baseball caps.

If nautical nonsense be something you wish, you'll love our SpongeBob SquarePants uniforms! http://t.co/FPapux22j9 pic.twitter.com/cXBTV4KLT6

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 27, 2015

Everyone together. Oh! Who lives in a pineapple under the sea ...

MiLB catcher and manager get ejected, shed gear and clothing in protest (VIDEO)

In the top of the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Biloxi Shuckers (Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers), Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) manager Pat Kelly and catcher Kyle Skipworth protested umpire Alex Ziegler's call following a foul ball before getting ejected.

Not happy to let the home-plate ump have the last word, both the skipper and backstop started shedding some of their gear and clothing before hitting the locker room. 

It's not clear why Skipworth was tossed, but this might be one of the few times you will see a catcher do a striptease along with his manager.

And while all of that would have been enough to make his point, Kelly wasn't done. He continued to scream at the umpires and eventually used the rosin bag as deodorant.

Kelly left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd.

Wall crashes down on minor league outfielder trying to make catch (VIDEO)

There are a couple of reasons outfield walls are in ballparks and that is so home run balls can go over them and players can't go through them.

And after one outfielder tried plowing through one during Wednesday's Syracuse Chiefs-Charlotte Knights Triple-A game, this centerfield barrier had the last word.

Here’s Chiefs center fielder, Darin Mastroianni, getting swallowed up by the padded backboard after it crashed down on him during a play.

Mastroianni was OK and stayed in for the rest of the game but batter Matt Tuiasosopo was able to reach second on the play.

Wall-1. Outfielder-0.

Altoona Curve to wear Mister Rogers sweater jerseys

The Altoona Curve (Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) will bring back a lot of childhood memories when they hold a special throwback-jersey night in an upcoming game.

The Curve will be hosting "A Night in the Neighborhood" on July 5, a special promotion to give the fans a chance to raise money for charity — and pay tribute to Mister Rogers. During the game against the Harrisburg Senators, the Altoona players and coaches will be wearing special sweater jerseys — the kind of cardigan the soft-spoken Fred Rogers made famous.

July 5th is A Night in the Neighborhood w/Daniel Tiger + Mister Rogers' Sweater Jerseys. Be ours? #NeighborhoodNight pic.twitter.com/CD8fTVlQXI

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) June 11, 2015

It's only fitting since Rogers launched Mister Rogers' Neighborhood at a small television station in nearby Pittsburgh in 1966. It began airing two years later on PBS stations throughout much of the country — and his sweater became synonymous with the popular kid's show.

In December 2000, Rogers, wearing his iconic sweater, taped his final episode, though PBS aired original programs until August 2001.

But good news for a new legion of little fans, Daniel Tiger will also be in attendance at the game for them to meet and greet them.

Minor league baseball game delayed by stray opossum (VIDEO)

There was an unusual rundown during a minor league baseball game Wednesday — and the baserunner ending up in a garbage can.

When an opossum appeared during a game between the Quad Cities River Bandits (an Astros affiliate) and the Clinton LumberKings (an affiliate for the Mariners), the grounds crew took over the action on the field as the hideous critter (sorry po-cat lovers) ran up the third base line past the pitcher's mound.

A River Bandits team employee trailed the invader with a garbage can, trapping the animal near third base.

After the employee pumped his fist in triumph, he then raised his hands unsure of what to do next. And in a classic minor league moment, the stadium staff played the “Jeopardy!” theme song over the loudspeakers.

Eventually another employee came along and picked up the opossum by its tail, walking the adventurous animal off the field in the garbage can.

The @QCRiverBandits' game was briefly delayed today when an opossum took the field. Seriously. Photo: @QCBanditPhotog pic.twitter.com/rBlgFnZ8ih
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) July 31, 2014

Play was delayed less than five minutes by the little rascal's adventure. The LumberKings won the game, 6-5.

'Hero cat' throws out ceremonial first pitch (VIDEO)

The cat that was hailed a hero, after a video of her saving a young boy from a dog attack went viral, has thrown the first pitch at a baseball game. Tara the California cat threw a ceremonial pitch at the start of a Bakersfield Blaze baseball game on Tuesday.

In case you've been living in a doghouse and haven't seen the video, four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo was viciously bitten on the leg and dragged off his bike by a dog last week, before Tara took the bullying pooch to task. 

Jeremy threw the actual first pitch of the game before handing the ball to his cat. Tara drew a large crowd of "hero cat" fans to the stadium, with attendance nearly triple that of a usual Tuesday night game.

There was a failed attempt at the game, between the Blaze and the Lancaster JetHawks, to have Tara "throw" the pitch using a baseball attached to a fishing line.

Instead, Ryan Triantafilo helped the cat "throw" the pitch as he held her in his arms.

Here's the heroic rescue:

Matt Szczur makes diving catch for the last out of a Minor League no-hitter (VIDEO)

Matt Szczur went 0-for-5 at the plate Wednesday night, but it wasn't the centerfielder's bat that Iowa Cubs pitcher Chris Rusin was thankful for, it was his glove.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rusin faced Josh Rodriguez of the New Orleans Zephyrs, one out shy of a no-hitter. Rodriguez then hit a soft pop fly to the Bermuda Triangle of open outfield space between the shortstop, second baseman and center fielder, and the no-no suddenly looked like a lost dream.

Fortunately for Rusin, Szczur charged in at full speed and was there to make a sensational diving catch to end the game and start a huge celebration at Zephyr Field.

For Rusin, who already has one appearance with the Chicago Cubs this year, the historic 3-0 victory could earn him another call-up from their Triple-A affiliate later this season.

And he might have Szczur to thank for it.

Minor Leaguer's leaping catch brings down outfield wall (VIDEO)

Red Sox Minor League outfielder Corey Brown didn't take a bow for his great outing Friday night  — but he still brought down the house.

Brown started in center field for Triple-A Pawtucket as they took on the Twins-affiliated Rochester Red Wings, and wound up tearing up the place with his awesome play — literally.

Not only did Brown jump start his team's offense with a towering third-inning solo home run, but he also managed to make an incredible leaping grab in the ninth inning on a deep fly ball which brought a chunk of the outfield wall down.

Probably a good thing he didn't try going through it.

Minor leaguer recovering from frightening crash into wall (Video)

Darren Ford, a minor-league outfielder for the Fresno Grizzlies, suffered a possible concussion and other injuries Thursday night when he crashed headfirst into the left-field wall while trying to make a catch.

The 28-year-old Ford was injured during the eighth inning of the Grizzlies' 11-4 win over the Salt Lake Bees in the triple-A Pacific Coast League. The Grizzlies are the top minor-league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, the team with which Ford made his major-league debut and earned a 2010 World Series ring.

According to milb.com, Ford was injured while trying to catch a foul ball at Smith's Ballpark. Jackson reported that Ford also suffered a "neck sprain," and that Fresno manager Bob Mariano said Ford was able to move his legs and feet after the frightening collision with the cement wall.

An ambulance and firetruck entered the field, and Ford was removed on a stretcher and taken to a Salt Lake City-area hospital.

Ford is not expected to have long-term problems from his injuries and was released from the hospital and able to fly back to California with the rest of the team.

A's prospect Billy Burns scores on a sac fly ... from second base (VIDEO)

Billy Burns' name matches his style of play on the basepaths.

The minor league outfielder stole 74 bases in 81 attempts while splitting time between Nationals' Class-A and Double-A affiliates last season. And Burns — who was traded to the A's at the end of 2013 — seems to be blazing a trail to the big leagues.

The 24-year-old prospect — playing for the Midland Rockhounds —already has people comparing the speedster to Ricky Henderson and with good reason.

On Tuesday, Burns managed to score a run on a sacrifice fly — after tagging up from second base!

That's Henderson territory right there. Just don't pull a hammy.