Alek Thomas, a minor league outfielder for the Oklahoma City Comets, was struck by the Sacramento River Cats' mascot, Dinger, while riding an electric scooter during a game on Saturday. The incident occurred at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento during a "Christmas in July" promotion, where Dinger was dressed as Santa Claus. Thomas, who exited the dugout, stepped into the path of the scooter, resulting in a collision captured on video. Despite the impact, Thomas did not suffer any apparent injuries and remained in the team's lineup days later.
The collision drew attention due to its unusual nature, as minor league games often feature mascot antics but rarely result in player injuries. Thomas, a former top prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks now in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system, has faced other minor league hazards, including a previous incident involving a bat dog. The River Cats organization has not issued a statement regarding the incident or any changes to mascot protocols.