The quirkiest mascots from across the Minors

Standing out in the Minor Leagues requires talent, commitment and persistence. If you've got none of those things, a ridiculous costume might do.

The world of the Minors is filled with all kinds of characters -- from prospects making pro debuts to rehabbing Major League veterans -- but perhaps none do as much to shape that world, in all of its wackiness, than mascots. Their energy sets the tone at the ballpark, they fill the time between half innings with laughs and, in many cases, they form the very identity of the hometown franchise.

With that in mind, here's one unforgettable Minor League mascot from every Major League organization.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Fungo (Double-A New Hampshire)
"Where did the fun go?" If you're asking yourself that question then you're nowhere near the Fisher Cats' Fungo. He's an outlier among his species, having suppressed his predatory instincts in favor of bringing energy and good cheer to the ballpark.

Orioles: Sherman (Single-A Delmarva)
Sherman, he of the Shorebirds, is an orange waterfowl with a yellow beak, bulging eyes and hair that resembles the fallout after an explosion at a confetti factory. A visit with this boisterous bird is a Shore-fire way to improve one's mood.

Rays: Roscoe the Grease Monkey (High-A Bowling Green)
Bowling Green, proud home of a Corvette assembly plant, named its team the Hot Rods. Roscoe the Grease Monkey is adept at fixing these turbo-charged machines, but his schedule still leaves plenty of room for ballpark shenanigans.

Red Sox: Smiley Ball (Triple-A Worcester)
Smiley Ball is a smiling ball and, thus, aptly named. This torso-free beacon of benevolence was inspired by the iconic yellow smiley face logo, created by Worcester's own Harvey Ball. Don't worry, be happy.

Yankees: Rascal (High-A Hudson Valley)
Racoons are mischievous, nocturnal and preternaturally intelligent. Rascal, masked face of the Renegades, embodies these traits on a nightly basis (and, when necessary, he's willing to work days).

All Too Well Well (Rascal’s version) pic.twitter.com/VXVUXSdK8V

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) September 26, 2023

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians: Horatio (High-A Lake County)
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. For example, there's Horatio, a 6-foot-6, naval-uniform-bedecked, double crested cormorant. The mascot of the Midwest League's Captains, Horatio more likely got his name from the British Navy's Lord Nelson than Hamlet's BFF. And although Horatio just landed at Classic Park in 2023, he's well-versed in old school practical jokes.

you ever wonder what is going on through Horatio’s head ?

… yea, us too 🤨 pic.twitter.com/a5wMRGzrGI

— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) September 17, 2023

Royals: Strike (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
As befitting their team name, the Naturals bask in the splendor of the Ozarks. That's where Strike the Sasquatch was long basking, too -- unseen by humans possibly for centuries -- until the Naturals began to play Texas League baseball at Arvest Ballpark. Since then, Strike has shed his shyness and taken to the spotlight of Naturals fans' ardor.

Tigers: Muddonna (Triple-A Toledo)
The Mud Hens are internationally known, thanks (among other things) to their 1896 origins and their steady shoutouts from Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) on the M*A*S*H TV series. The team's longest-tenured mascot is a big yellow bird named Muddy, but upon the opening of Fifth Third Field in 2002, the Mud Hens added a mud hen -- Muddonna, "the original Material Bird."

Twins: Mr. Shucks (Cedar Rapids)
This is the corniest mascot in baseball, and that's a good thing for the Kernels. Mr. Shucks is, in fact, a giant ear of corn with a baseball for a head, giving him a strong claim to the title of the quintessential Midwest League mascot. When the Kernels are out of town, Mr. Shucks has been known to play a little ball at Veterans Memorial Stadium by himself.

White Sox: Boomer (Single-A Kannapolis)
Boomer is a baller. Literally. The Cannon Ballers' mascot is central to their identity, as the goggled, helmeted, bombastic stuntman is the embodiment of the team's moniker and the model for their logo. There's even a humongous inflatable likeness of Boomer out on the outfield concourse at Atrium Health Ballpark.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels: Bernie (Single-A Inland Empire)
Bernie -- a pan-smacking, belly-rattling, butt-boogeying something or other, is plenty expressive with his body language alone. He is a rarity among mascots however, in that he also is known for emitting sounds. "Woo-hoo," says Bernie. "Woo-hoo."

Astros: Rusty (Double-A Corpus Christi)
Rusty hooks are no fun, you might need a tetanus shot after encountering one. Rusty, mascot for Corpus Christi's Hooks, is a different story. His presence lures fans to the ballpark, and for that reason he's tops among the team's cast of characters.

Athletics: The Aviator (Triple-A Las Vegas)
The Aviator is an enigmatic stone-faced fellow, and equipped with his own jet propulsion system. While other mascots dole out high-fives and hugs, The Aviator offers a curt nod and a thumbs-up en route to handling classified business at Area 51.

Mariners: Otey (Double-A Arkansas)
Otey the Swamp Possum is the Travelers' good luck charm, and he has a distinct backwoods vibe. He gets his name from R.C. Otey, an infielder who played for the Little Rock Travlers in the '50s and then went on to serve as the head groundskeeper at Ray Winder Field (the precursor to the Travs' current home of Dickey-Stephens Park).

Rangers: Ted E. Bear (Double-A Frisco)
Frisco's RoughRiders were named after Teddy Roosevelt's Spanish-American War regiment. Ted E. Bear bears a striking resemblance to our 26th President, but instead of speaking softly he doesn't speak at all.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Chopper (Triple-A Gwinnett)
Gwinnett's team is the Stripers, named after striped bass. Chopper is not a creature of the water, however. He's a groundhog, imbued with an irreverent spirit and thus always up for shenanigans, hi-jinx and funny business.

Marlins: Scampi (Triple-A Jacksonville)
Scampi, a furry pink shrimp, joined the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp ballpark scene in 2017. His favorite food his plankton, and when he's not at the ballpark you can find him searching for such sustenance throughout the local waterways.

Mets: Rowdy the Rumble Pony (Double-A Binghamton)
Rowdy the Rumble Pony is what his name implies, a buff and boisterous equine that no carousel can contain. He sports a red mohawk, and is regularly spotted wearing boxing gloves. In short, Rowdy is always ready to rumble.

Nationals: Mr. Celery (High-A Wilmington)
Mr. Celery is an enigmatic anthropomorphic celery stalk, and no one knows where he came from. He makes brief, emphatic appearances on the field in the wake of the Blue Rocks scoring a run, and then retreats back to his ballpark lair. The air of mystique that surrounds Mr. Celery only makes him more beloved.

Phillies: Screwball (Double-A Reading)
Screwball, the senior member of the Fightin Phils' mascot pantheon, has red fur, googly eyes, a perpetually outstretched tongue and, most crucially, a baseball for a head. He's a member of the team's mascot band, rocking out alongside Change-Up the Turtle, Quack the Duck, Bucky the Beaver and Blooper the Hound Dog.

Screwball put in the work all week long for the big game. Took some time, but we think he's getting the hang of it!

$5.70 General Admission Tickets ALL WEEKEND! (Regular Pricing: $8 Advance / $11 Day of Game) at https://t.co/9DIn0NL6uT pic.twitter.com/sDris7RLft

— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) February 12, 2023

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers: Muddy (Single-A Carolina)
Nobody lifts up the spirits of a fan who's feeling low faster than Muddy, the Mudcats' bottom-dwelling mascot. Muddy is one of the very few catfish on the planet who walks around on two legs, and perhaps the only catfish ever to be photographed operating an ATV. But what's twice as good as one catfish mascot? Two catfish mascots. The Carolina League's Five County Stadium is also home to Muddy's best friend, Mini Muddy.

Cardinals: Homer (High-A Peoria)
A firefighting dog, Homer can be called the head of the Chiefs -- at least in the sense that his likeness is found on Chiefs hats. And the home of Homer is the Midwest League's Dozer Park, where he's always en fuego for the Peoria faithful.

Cubs: Splash (Single-A Myrtle Beach)
Myrtle Beach is all about fun in the sun, and the Pelicans get help spreading those vibes via Splash, who's been with the Carolina League franchise since it debuted in 1999. Beach birds have a reputation as aggressive food thieves on the sand, but at TicketReturn.com Field, Splash's raucous, high-energy moves are clearly rooted in a spirit of generosity.

Pirates: Al Tuna (Double-A Altoona)
If you've always felt there's something a little funny about seafood far inland from the ocean, you're going to find Al Tuna hilarious. For one thing, his timing is impeccable -- the 6-foot fish bursts out of the Peoples Natural Gas Field wall in center every time the Eastern League's Curve score a run.

Homer Simpson Al Tuna
🤝
High quality memes pic.twitter.com/z6TI4SUNqn

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 31, 2023

Reds: Looie the Lookout (Double-A Chattanooga)
If you're ever at AT&T Field, call up Looie. More likely, though, is that he'll spot you first. In either event, when you see him, you may think he looks familiar. He's a living version of the Lookouts' logo -- a blocky C with a pair of eyes looking out of the letter's curvature -- one of the most recognizable in not only the Southern League, but all of Minor League Baseball.

Looie is feeling PATRIOTIC and ready for a great night! Let's play ball! pic.twitter.com/2bK9LKCKUL

— Chattanooga Lookouts (@ChattLookouts) July 3, 2022

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs: Archie (Triple-A Reno)
Known as "the Sasquatch of the Sierras," Archie of the Pacific Coast League's Aces is a gigantic, red-furred beast who's never hard to find at Reno's beautiful Greater Nevada Field. Longtime fans will remember that at one point Archie was the rare mascot endowed with the power of speech. Although he's been silent for several seasons, Archie's mouth remains open, revealing huge teeth and a massive pink tongue.

Classic K̶e̶v̶i̶n̶ Archie 🤦‍♂️

Come out to Reno Aces Paper Company Night on September 2nd! pic.twitter.com/UAYWCB0IVe

— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 7, 2023

Dodgers: Tremor (Single-A Rancho Cucamonga)
Upon whom do the California League's Quakes rely to shake up the atmosphere when the game gets tumultuous at LoanMart Field? Why, none other than this fun and friendly Rallysaurus, who wears No. 4.8 on his jersey. But if anything goes wrong for the Quakes, it's no fault of Tremor, nor that of his little brother -- Aftershock.

Giants: Nutzy (Double-A Richmond)
You want to get nuts? Head to The Diamond, home of the Eastern League's Flying Squirrels. Judging by physical appearance alone, Nutzy -- cut like a superhero, and with a cape to boot -- would be the one to beat were ever all MiLB mascots to meet in some kind of battle royale. But don't be scared by his jacked physique and rogue-ish facial expression; Nutzy's nuts about the good times.

Padres: Ballapeño (Double-A San Antonio)
If you like your mascots spicy, you've got a favorite in Ballapeño, perhaps the sporting world's only anthropomorphic chili pepper and inarguably one of the two or three most passionate supporters of the Texas League's Missions (including when they play as smash-hit Copa de la Diversión identity, the Flying Chanclas). Catch Ballapeño at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium alongside Henry the Puffy Taco, who ... well, you'll know him when you see him.

One thing is for certain, Ballapeño is ready for the first day of summer and there’s no better place than to spend it at the ballpark tonight! 😎⚾️
Get tickets at https://t.co/1ejNp49cXU pic.twitter.com/9xq3MPUTRV

— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) June 21, 2023

Rockies: Chompers and Chew Chew (Double-A Hartford)
The Yard Goats take their name from old railroad industry jargon, but the Eastern League franchise is bullish on actual goats, too. There are live goats on the premises of Dunkin Park, none more thrilling than the tandem of Chompers (the bat-biting creature on the Hartford logo) and Chew Chew (say it aloud and you'll hear the train reference).