Dash, a retriever puppy, has four big shoes to fill.
"He's going to follow in the foot steps of Chase 'That Golden Thunder,' 'Home Run' Derby, and Rookie 'That Golden Thunder,' so we're excited," said Thunder General Manager Jeff Hurley, who added the pup has a lot of work to do before he can live up to his full name, Dash to Home Plate "That Golden Thunder."
"It's pretty intensive training and that's why he won't make an appearance until 2021," Hurley continued. "He's gonna have to put in his work for the entire 2020 season."
However, he said you may see special appearances of Dash around Arm and Hammer Park, just not retrieving bats just yet.
For nearly two decades now, the Thunder have had dogs around the locker room and offices. First there was Chase, then his son Derby. Currently, the Thunder have Derby's son Rookie as their bat dog.
"It's a way for us to kind of escape the grind of minor league baseball and having two golden retrievers now around the office, it's a lot of fun," Hurley shared. "They keep us on our toes and our fans absolutely adore them."
According to Hurley, the dogs also add to the feeling of community among the players and staff.
"It's a sense of home for them," he explained. "A lot of these guys aren't from around here, so they'll enjoy the companionship of just having these dogs around.
Opening day is April 9, when the Thunder welcome the Harrisburg Senators.