Tuesday’s Dodgers game against the Diamondbacks was delayed by nearly two hours after a bee colony took over the netting near home plate at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Related: Diamondbacks sting Dodgers’ bullpen for extra-inning win
But for many fans watching from both at home and in person there was plenty of anticipation about what to do about the bees.
Enter beekeeper Matt Hilton.
MVP has arrived pic.twitter.com/yLeB6KDH8Z
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
Hilton had just made it to his son’s t-ball game when he got a call about the bees. He then made his way over to Chase Field where he was met with a standing ovation as he entered the field.
Matt Hilton was at his son’s tee ball game when he got called in to work to remove some bees.
Just hours later he was a viral sensation and threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the @Dbacks game. pic.twitter.com/uTsmL8KAt4
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
Showdown pic.twitter.com/W6xt2xqNEd
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
After using a scissor lift to get close enough to successfully and safely vacuum the colony of bees as “I Need a Hero” played from the speakers. Once he removed them from the field, he was again met with applause from the crowd. According to Hilton, who works at Blue Sky Pest Control, the bees were Africanized honey bees, otherwise known as “killer bees.”
You catch more bees with a vacuum hose than you do with honey pic.twitter.com/IuE20u596v
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
Hilton proved to be such a fan favorite that he was invited to throw the first pitch.
Bee Guy — aka Matt Hilton of BlueSky Pest Control — will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before #Dodgers-DBacks.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
What a night for Blue Sky Pest Control pic.twitter.com/b7HeVcmVLF
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
Is Beekeeper Matt Hilton the first guy to get a save BEFORE the game starts? pic.twitter.com/uCRJadnsBT
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 1, 2024
Fans dubbed Hilton “Bee Guy” on social media and took to various platforms to share this memorable moment in baseball.
Bee Guy was absolutely living for this. pic.twitter.com/fvXKPvcenf
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 1, 2024
screw it beekeeper hype reel pic.twitter.com/XjpyJ150za
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 1, 2024
Press conference for the Bee guy pic.twitter.com/uNmwaJ7BWC
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 1, 2024
Who ya gonna call? pic.twitter.com/gBQhLb3Nxl
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 1, 2024
donut is very into this #Dodgers bee delay pic.twitter.com/7Wd0LTqiq7
— wex (@lexiebu) May 1, 2024
Bee Guy is a LEGEND pic.twitter.com/LOjUAnJF0s
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) May 1, 2024
Thank you bee guy pic.twitter.com/z0YYObDqdu
— Randi (@randi9320) May 1, 2024
BEE GUY GOT TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH, PULLED UP FROM THE MOUND, NOTHING BUT W FOR THE BEE GUY pic.twitter.com/jwToOTb1wI
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) May 1, 2024
They called Mike Hazen a mad man when he signed Bee Guy to a 7 year deal this off-season pic.twitter.com/JbgqsX16Rk
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) May 1, 2024
Bee Guy better get tickets to the World Series or something. @MLB
A true hero. pic.twitter.com/sI1bGWmsgA
— Anna Huffstutler (@A_Huffstutler) May 1, 2024
Replying to @Jp BEE GUY SHOWED UP!!! #beeguy #az #diamondbacks #dodgers #mlb #baseball #sportstiktok #bees #arizonadiamondbacks #arizona #chasefield #beecolony #ladodgers
♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89
A moment of appreciation for bee guy #diamondbacks #arizona #beeguy #baseball
♬ Whatta Man – Live – Ladies of Soul
THANK YOU BEE GUY!@Dbacks pic.twitter.com/cHVTaC52oy
— Hannah Rae (@HRaeIsAwesome) May 1, 2024
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