Two fans who grabbed Mookie Betts by the wrist and tried to rip the ball from his hands during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium have been banned “indefinitely” from attending MLB games. This was revealed in a report by the Post.
Fans Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen were ejected from the game and suspended from Game 5 in the Bronx, the final game of the season.
Both were using seats belonging to season ticket holders, who have owned the tickets since 1990 and were not in attendance, so they will be allowed to keep them.
Season ticket holders have reportedly supported the decision to ban the two fans from attending future matches.
In a letter from MLB officials obtained by the Post, the league wrote to the banned fans: “Your conduct posed a serious risk to player health and safety and went well beyond the lines of acceptable fan conduct. Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball will ban you from all MLB stadiums, You will be banned from our offices and other facilities indefinitely.”
The letter also states that if they are found on MLB property or at an event, they may be removed from the premises and arrested for trespassing.
At the time, the Yankees called the fan's behavior “outrageous and unacceptable,” and issued a statement saying, “The safety and security of our players, fans, and stadium staff is, and will remain, a fundamental element of any event held at Yankee Stadium. I can't do that,” he said. I compromised. ”
Officials said the decision to ban future fans from Yankee Stadium was a joint decision between the Yankees and MLB, and the league went even further by banning fans from all MLB parks.
Betts was asked about the incident during an appearance on Peacock's special “Back That Year Up 2024” last month, and he said this in response to the two fans: Try to get them the ball. nice. But, for example, you tried to grab my butt. ”
Ms Betts added at the time: So I decided to throw the ball to them. And I realized, “Mook, you wouldn't do that.” Please return to the right field seats. ”
The incident on October 30th occurred when Gleyber Torres, then of the Yankees, hit a ball into right field foul territory, hitting Betts into the wall along the stands.
Betts jumped against the wall and made the catch, but the fans grabbed Betts' glove and pried the ball from the webbing.
After being ejected from the game, Capobianco told ESPN that he and Peter had been preparing for such a scenario for a long time.
“We always joke about the ball in our area,” Capobianco said. “We're not going to go out of our way to attack. If it's in our area, we're going to 'D' up.” Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. Let's talk about it. We are happy to do this. ”
Furthermore, he added: “I know when I’m wrong and in that moment I was like, ‘Hey, I’m out of here.’ I patrol that wall and they know it. ”
Capobianco's brother Darren told The Athletic that Betts had been abusing them.
“I just see the ball, and I don't want to say I'm going to go get it if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco said of his brother Austin's interference with the play. “And Mookie swore at us. Not good.”
