World Ocean Day is observed on June 8 every year to promote the protection, conservation, and restoration of all the world’s oceans. This year, the Chicago White Sox celebrated by letting a very special ambassador ‘throw out’ the ceremonial first pitch, but no one could have guessed how his brief appearance stole the whole show.
Baseball fans went wild when Pepe the Humboldt penguin took to the field alongside Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo. After all, it’s impossible not to cheer for such a sweet, waddling bird, especially when he looks like such a natural on the pitching mound.
Is he the Sox’s next star pitcher? He certainly has the fans wrapped around his flipper!
@yahoosports Pepe the Penguin joined the White Sox prior to their game vs. the Royals ⚾ #mlb #baseball #chicago #whitesox #penguin #animals #animalsoftiktok #zoo
What a superstar! This outgoing penguin is no stranger to the spotlight. As an animal ambassador for Brookfield Zoo, Pepe makes all kinds of special appearances that leave him as the center of attention.
Even though Pepe needed a little help tossing out the first pitch, hardly anyone was paying attention to Dr. Adkesson and his baseball skills. All eyes were on the unbothered penguin as he explored the field instead. He may not have paid much attention, but he’s still more athletic than many people, myself included!
Related: Baseball-Loving Senior Golden Retriever Tosses Adorable First Pitch at Pro Baseball Game
“I’ve seen enough,” said commenter @chidiesel. “Sign him.” LOL! This adorable penguin sighting happened in the middle of a slump for the Sox, so fun moments like this are especially meaningful for patient baseball fans.
However, baseball fans aren’t the only ones loving this sweet zoo animal encounter. In fact, Pepe and his viral videos have even more people tuning into the sport than usual. Just like commenter Carter admitted, “This is 100% how you get me to watch baseball.”
Humbolt Penguins
Even though Pepe calls Chicago home, Humboldt penguins like him live on the coast of Peru and Chile. Although they’re less than two feet tall and weigh under ten pounds, it doesn’t take an expert to see that they also have personalities that are larger than life.
Sadly, this bird species is considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and birds becoming tangled in fishing lines. Ambassador events like this help Pepe spread the word about conserving his species, as well as the whole ocean, while looking adorable in the process.
After helping with an iconic first pitch, it’s not surprising to hear that Pepe has tons of new fans. Luckily, they can visit him and his zoo animal friends at Brookfield Zoo anytime!
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