Opening Day at Citi Field was supposed to be memorable for rookie Carson Benge — just not this memorable. In the span of a few surreal innings, Benge watched a dead bird fall from the sky near his position, launched his first Major League hit for a home run, and celebrated alongside a crowd of more than 20 family members (plus one very enthusiastic golden retriever). It was equal parts dream debut, wildlife documentary, and family reunion — the kind of chaotic, unforgettable beginning that only baseball can deliver.
*** Now chatting in #CitiFieldDebut ***
BengeBang: hey guys
first game in the big leagues
feeling normal amount of nerves
which is to say i may throw up
*** MendozaLine has entered the chat ***
MendozaLine: just breathe, rook
act like it’s any other game
except with 40,000 people and your entire extended family watching
BengeBang: yeah about that
i think i saw my third cousin twice removed behind home plate
not sure how that works
BengeBang: ok ball not coming to me yet
just standing here
enjoying the moment—
*** two birds collide midair ***
BengeBang: oh
oh no
a bird just… fell
like 15 feet away from me
*** BirdDown has entered the chat ***
BirdDown: tell my family i loved them
*** BirdDown has left the chat ***
BengeBang: is this a sign
this feels like a sign
*** MoneyLindor has entered the chat ***
MoneyLindor: yeah it’s a sign
sign says “welcome to the majors”
*** pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth has entered the chat ***
pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: that’s not a sign that’s a warning
baseball is chaos and sometimes birds explode
shake it off
BengeBang: i am trying but the bird is still there
*** Sixth inning ***
BengeBang: ok just don’t think about birds
don’t think about family
don’t think about—
*** CRACK ***
BengeBang: oh wow
that felt good
*** ball disappears into the seats ***
BengeBang: where did it go
what just happened
*** BengeBang has entered an out-of-body state ***
BengeBang: i kind of blacked out
why am i running the bases
did i do something cool
MendozaLine: you hit a home run, man
like a real one
MoneyLindor: bird omen reversed
baseball karma restored
*** CrowdNoise.exe has peaked ***
*** BengeFamilyReunion has entered the chat ***
BengeFamilyReunion: CARSON!!!
WE DROVE 11 HOURS
YOUR UNCLE MISSED WORK
BengeBang: i love all of you
i think
*** BarkyBonds has entered the chat ***
BarkyBonds: hi
i am here
i have no idea what baseball is
BengeBang: oh my gosh
hi buddy
BarkyBonds: ball?
you hit ball?
i retrieve ball
BengeBang: yes you do
you absolutely do
pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: ok the dog is good
the dog offsets the bird
balance restored
*** HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
*** JIM THOME has entered the chat ***
WORDUPTHOME: HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
SON YOU HAD THE FULL BASEBALL EXPERIENCE
LIFE, DEATH, FAMILY, AND A DINGER
OLD JIMBO CALLS THAT A COMPLETE GAME OF THE SOUL
BengeBang: thank you jim
i’m gonna go pet the dog again
*** MLB_NewsBot has entered the chat ***
MLB_NewsBot: FINAL: Rookie Carson Benge homers in MLB debut at Citi Field.
Also witnessed bird collision, family takeover, and golden retriever celebration.
Analysts unsure which was most impactful.
*** BengeBang has left to play fetch ***
*** BarkyBonds has left to be a very good boy ***
*** pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth has left to monitor local wildlife ***
*** WORDUPTHOME has left to write “COMPLETE GAME OF THE SOUL” on a baseball ***