WASHINGTON — Steven Okert took care of his delivery man. Then he delivered.
A frequent passenger in the Washington Nationals’ bullpen cart over the past few seasons, the Minnesota Twins relief pitcher stopped to tip his driver before taking the mound in Wednesday afternoon’s game.
Taking over with two outs in the fifth inning of a one-run game, Okert rode the cart from the visiting bullpen in left field to a spot near his team’s dugout. When he popped out of the cart, cameras captured the left-hander providing his driver with a cash tip.
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Okert proceeded to record the next four outs for the Twins in a contest they eventually won 3-2 at Nationals Park. As a karmic reward for his generosity, Okert earned the victory.
“I asked (Okert) when he came to the mound, ‘Did you tip him?'” Twins shortstop Carlos Correa said. “And he’s like, ‘Yeah,’ and I was like, ‘OK, he’s locked in.’”
Okert relieved starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who had thrown 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Said Woods Richardson: “I did (see it). I think that was a quality move by him, a quality gentleman move.”
Okert is the first player all season, from the home or visiting team, to take a ride on Washington’s bullpen cart, which pulls up outside the appropriate bullpen whenever a pitching change is made. The Nationals reintroduced the bullpen cart in 2018 and are one of a few teams to offer the service to relief pitchers.
Okert has ridden in the Nationals’ cart several times in previous seasons. But on Wednesday, he became the first that anyone could recall to tip the driver.
“First time I tipped the driver,” Okert said. “I was carrying it the whole series waiting to get in. Got to use it.”
don’t forget to tip your driver!! pic.twitter.com/mNMBagnif5
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 22, 2024
Okert said he handed the driver $5, which is more than generous given his trip lasted roughly 30 seconds and he traveled about 300 feet.
“Well, you’ve got to tip,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Unless there’s a major issue, you’re going to tip so we like to do things right here, treat people good. That’s it. Do it right. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t.”
Despite his encouragement, Okert was disappointed to see none of his fellow bullpen mates took advantage of the free service on a day where the humidity on the field made the temperature feel above 90 degrees. Okert, who pitched with the Miami Marlins for three seasons and was a frequent visitor to Nationals Park, recalled the first time he used the bullpen cart.
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“It was freezing,” Okert said. “We were here early in the season. I was walking in and like, I’m not taking it. There’s no way. And then he pulled up to the gate and I was like, ‘Shoot, I’m taking it.’ So I took it the first time and I threw good, so I just continued to do it. … I’ve tried to get everyone here to take it, but nobody wanted to do it. I think they said I was the first one this year to take it.”
(Photo of the Nationals’ bullpen cart from 2023: Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
