When it comes to spring training, the goal is to just get everyone on the Atlanta Braves ready for the 2025 season and make sure they stay healthy. There are few worse outcomes of spring training than a key player getting hurt in scrimmages that don’t count for anything and putting the team behind right from the start.

The Braves are acutely aware of how injuries can derail a season given how 2024 went with so many All-Star caliber players hitting the injured list. One such player Atlanta lost last year was Ozzie Albies who missed a big chunk of time with a broken wrist and who the Braves really need a healthy, strong season from to get where they want to go in 2025.

Fortunately, the Braves have avoided injuries down at spring training so far with games set to start this weekend. However, Albies got a different kind of scare down at spring training recently as Atlanta’s mascot, Blooper, did him really dirty.

Jumpscare but it’s just your boy @BlooperBraves | @ozzie pic.twitter.com/fBxm0f0O87

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 20, 2025

Blooper scared the hell out of Ozzie Albies and it was hilarious, if misguided

Don’t worry, Braves fans. Albies appears to be completely recovered from his wrist injury and the Braves appear to be in a good spot health-wise down at camp. In this case, the only scare here is the one that Albies suffered at the hands of Blooper during a photo shoot. We have to say, the look on Albies’ face when he first felt the hands on his shoulders and then his realization that it was Blooper was priceless.

One does wonder what Blooper was thinking here. Albies is a pretty easy-going guy, but he was also holding a freaking bat. Albies said that he was close to running out of the room, but some other guys might have responded…a bit more forcefully. It is probably safe to guess that trying to sneak up on Sean Murphy would have ended differently and probably wouldn’t have been able to be posted on social media.

All in all, this is just good fun from a team that among the most entertaining teams in baseball. Blooper has been a surprisingly good addition as a mascot and Braves like to keep things loose which is fun for (almost) everyone involved. Blooper probably shouldn’t press his luck too much, though.