Minor league baseball game is delayed by bizarre animal encounter... after a TURTLE wanders into the outfield

A Single-A baseball game in Florida was delayed after an unexpected animal wandered into the outfield. 

Play between the Bradenton Marauders and the St. Lucie Mets was briefly suspended when a turtle was seen darting across the grass at Bradenton's LECOM Park Saturday afternoon. 

The reptile wowed the crowd with its speed during the second inning, evading Marauders players Sergio Campana and Esmerlyn Valdez. 

One of the team's relievers, Magdiel Cotto, eventually came to the rescue when he picked up the turtle and delivered it to the bullpen. 

The critter was kept in the bullpen for a few innings before being released into a nearby pond, Marauders broadcaster Thomas Zinzarella told The Athletic.

Play between the Bradenton Marauders and the St. Lucie Mets was interrupted by a turtle

The reptile was seen darting across the grass at Bradenton's LECOM Park on Saturday

'As Cotto also told me, I'd say it's a first and a bucket list item,' Zinzarella added. 

It came a few hours before the Marauders' MLB affiliate, the Pittsburgh Pirates, called up Paul Skenes for his debut in the big leagues. 

The former Louisiana State University pitcher was joined by his gymnast girlfriend, Olivia Dunne, who supported him in a custom Pirates jacket. 

'I had some nerves creep in at first, but I've kind of channeled it into excitement rather than nerves, and I just have the most confidence in him ever,' she told Sportsnet Pittsburgh during the game. 

'I just trust in him, and what he's put in, and I'm just so excited,' she went on.

'It's amazing, the support here is awesome. Pittsburgh has been so welcoming. Just seeing people wearing Air Force stuff, LSU stuff, Skenes jerseys.'

Dunne also revealed she and the No. 1 overall prospect had to hit the road immediately after he got the call from the Pirates. 

Sergio Campana, Esmerlyn Valdez and Magdiel Cotto were all seen looking at the turtle 

In the major leagues, Olivia Dunne was on hand for Paul Skenes' MLB debut 

I just have the most confidence in him ever,' the gymnast gushed during the game

'All I can say is I think that's the quickest I've ever packed in my life,' she said.

'We woke up from a nap, he had a few missed calls, and he got called up. He was like, "let's pack" and then we hit the road. It was very exciting!'

On the field, Skenes enjoyed an impressive debut on the mound, throwing seven strikeouts over his first four innings. 

He was pulled in the fifth and was given a standing ovation from the crowd - immediately after they booed the decision to take him out of the game.