The Violent, Big League 'The Walking Dead' Promotion

By Brendan Menapace

Yesterday, we reported that a U.K. retail outlet pulled its "The Walking Dead"-themed T-shirts after some customers took offense to the message's racist origin. The focus of the shirt was a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, which one character had been known to yield on the show. And, it turns out, this T-shirt wasn't the only spiky bat-related "The Walking Dead" promotion. The other one is much more … practical and hands-on.

The show gave prominent MLB sluggers, like Yasiel Puig and Bryce Harper, a "Walking Dead" crate with a barbed wire bat inside.

And they say baseball is boring.

Harper, the Washington Nationals' big-hitting outfielder, even trotted out to the on-deck circle with his. No word on whether or not he used it in a game, but you have to imagine the sweet spot is a little smaller when wrapped in barbed wire, right?

Thanks to USA Today, we got a glimpse of some of these players unboxing and playing with their creative, albeit scary, promotional product.

Bryce Harper has a bat wrapped in barbed wire, because why not? pic.twitter.com/DRBhhg02h3

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 19, 2017

#KHOU11 #Astros @TeamCJCorrea Carlos received a gift Walking Dead bat pic.twitter.com/l4XlcSVNB9

— Matt Musil (@MattMusilSports) February 18, 2017

I'm so happy right now! Thanks @WalkingDead_AMC for this gift! #MeetLucille pic.twitter.com/rdAWXpxZ3O

— J.D. Martinez (@JDMartinez28) February 17, 2017

.@SalvadorPerez15 has a new piece of lumber in his arsenal thanks to @WalkingDead_AMC. #RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/eXk44fRewa

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) February 19, 2017

Yasiel Puig is ready for the zombies this season, with his "The Walking Dead" bat. Photo... https://t.co/6Xc3O3XTNy pic.twitter.com/8c8sAH78VL

— Doug Padilla (@DougPadilla) February 17, 2017

(Editor's note, we would pay so much to see a heavy hitter like Frank Thomas or Mark McGwire come to the plate with a barbed wire bat.)