iStockphoto
A Minor League Baseball game was briefly interrupted by a vicious crash of thunder in Florida. The heart-stopping “boom” caused a costly balk for the visiting team.
The scene was caught on video during an MiLB broadcast. The timing of the thunderbolt couldn’t have been worse for the starting pitcher!
The comical series of events occurred in the bottom of the first inning during a game between the Norfolk Tides and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Tides led 2-0 after plating a pair of runs in the top half of the frame. The Jumbo Shrimp looked to cut into the advantage in their first at-bat.
Jacksonville threatened early thanks to a leadoff double from Jakob Marsee. He later stole third base to get 90 feet away from home plate. He’d score in the most bizarre of ways.
As Norfolk pitcher Roansy Contreras loaded up for a delivery to No. 2 hitter Graham Pauley, the loud rumble of thunder rolled in. It literally scared a run across the plate.
Minor League Baseball player gets frightened into a balk.
Alright… we don’t even know what to say about this. Mother nature and the @JaxShrimp are in cahoots!#SCNotTop10 pic.twitter.com/TZjMZh6ymq
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 8, 2025
The sound caught everyone in the ballpark off guard. Contreras stopped his windup midway through his motion. By rule, it was a balk. The runner on third base was awarded home plate to cut the 2-0 lead in half.
The broadcast crew was in disbelief as were a number of players on the field. Again, the timing couldn’t have been worse for the man on the mound.
It wouldn’t impact the final result as Norfolk won the contest, 9-5. It did, however, impact Contreras’s stat line after having the opportunity to keep Jacksonville off the scoreboard in the first inning stripped away.