During Monday’s game against the Guardians, Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass earned praise for stepping in to help a young fan after a disappointing moment. The incident unfolded when the girl lost her potential home run ball to an adult fan.
The girl’s mother, Nikki DeVoe, shared details of the experience in a Facebook post later that evening.
This moment was captured on the Rays’ broadcast during the fifth inning when Daniel Schneemann of the Guardians hit a two-run home run. An adult fan reached in, taking the ball just as it landed near the girl who was trying to grab a souvenir.
Both Rays anchors, Andrew Freed and Brian Anderson, expressed shock at the scene, with one of them pleading, “Please give me that ball back,” while on air.
In a commendable move, Bass decided to alleviate the girl’s disappointment. He later appeared in the outfield stands with a baseball for her, which certainly brightened her spirits. After he left, she was seen crying, but it seemed these were tears of joy.
“Just using all that bonus girl dad energy,” Bass remarked in a post while sharing clips of this heartwarming interaction.
He also returned to take a photo with the mother and brother of the young fan, both of whom were also holding baseballs and smiling.
He wrote on social media, “Baseball is awesome! What a sweet little family.”
Reports from Rays broadcasts indicated that the girl’s older brother had attempted to retrieve the ball from the man who took it. DeVoe later confirmed this in her post, mentioning her son’s bravery.
In her post, she expressed deep appreciation for the kindness shown to her family during the ordeal.
DeVoe specifically thanked the Tampa broadcast, saying they showcased the moment that the Cleveland broadcast overlooked, instead switching to a puppy at the time of the incident. She shared her gratitude and pride, noting the impressive sportsmanship exhibited toward young fans. She noted her daughter shed “happy tears,” and she felt proud of how the kids handled the situation.
Fortunately, after some pressure, the man did eventually give the girl a home run ball in the later innings—though it wasn’t the same one. Nonetheless, they remained thankful for the gesture and even more so for the support from Tampa.
This incident marks one of the more talked-about moments of the baseball season. Last year, a similar issue arose during a Phillies-Marlins game when a father faced criticism for giving a home run ball to his son.
The Rays won the game 3-2.
