Tugger, the Phillies' new service pup-in-training, is ready for his Major League Debut Tuesday. (Credit: The Phillies)
There's a new pup on the block.
The Phillies announced Monday that they will welcome their new service pup-in-training, 10-week-old Tugger, before Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres. It will be Tugger's Major League Debut.
The Phillies have a new service pup they are training named Tugger. He’s 10 weeks old.
“Tugger will begin his lifesaving mission of becoming an accredited service dog, with the goal of being placed with a veteran with a disability,” per a team release. pic.twitter.com/4NaqOJhgLO
Through a partnership between Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection, Tugger's mission of becoming an accredited service dog will begin at Citizens Bank Park. The goal is for him to eventually support a veteran with a disability.
Tugger, a yellow Labrador retriever, was born on April 24, 2025, which is two days prior to the 50-year anniversary of his namesake Tug McGraw's Phillies debut.
Wholesome content alert pic.twitter.com/GM0PWKpsNm
Outside of being a 1980 World Series Champion, McGraw was a U.S. Marine Corps reservist. His son, country singer Tim McGraw, says his father would have felt "deeply honored" to have Tugger named in his memory.
"Ya gotta' believe young Tugger's going to be a hero for a veteran with an invisible wound of war," Tim McGraw said in a Phillies press release.
"My father loved the Phillies and took immense pride in his service with the United States Marine Corps. The thought that this little pup will one day contribute to enhancing the quality of life for a veteran is truly remarkable."
Team Foster has helped connect over 500 veterans with service dogs. A Phillies Charities, Inc. grant made the Phillies' service pup initiative with Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection possible. This is the second pup the Phillies have sponsored; the first, Major, was recently placed with a veteran:
According to this release, Major recently got called up to the big leagues when he was “placed with a veteran.” https://t.co/Lu6omqv99C pic.twitter.com/mfvlXLm7hB
According to the Phillies' press release, during his training, Tugger will work with dozens of veterans receiving treatment for physical and psychological wounds. By the time Tugger's training is complete, he will be able to do everything from helping a veteran put on their socks to disrupting nightmares to detecting anxiety attacks.
The Phillies will be featuring Tugger on their social media platforms and providing updates on his service training.
