Two fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during Game 4 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium have been banned indefinitely from all Major League Baseball games at all stadiums. reports the New York Post.
Dan Martin writes:
In a letter from a MLB Officially obtained by The Post, the league wrote to the banned fans in part: “Your conduct posed a serious risk to player health and safety and far exceeded the bounds of acceptable fan behavior.” Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball indefinitely bans you from all MLB stadiums, offices and other facilities. »
The incident occurred during the first inning of game 4 when Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees lifted a foul ball down the right field line. Betts took a swing at the ball against the wall, but two fans sitting near the railing grabbed his throwing hand and ripped the ball from his glove. Here is an overview:
Torres was called out due to fan interference, and the two fans – later identified as Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen – were ejected from Game 4 and excluded from the deciding Game 5 by the Yankees, who in a statement, called the act of interfering with Betts “egregious and unacceptable.”
“In our region, we always joke about the ball” Capobianco told ESPN shortly after the incident. “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our zone, we’re going to move up to ‘D’. Someone defends, someone hits the ball. We talk about it. We’re ready to do it. do this.”
While the Yankees won game four, it proved to be their only victory of the series as the Dodgers won in five games.