Major League Baseball has banned the two New York Yankees fans who grabbed Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts’ glove, pried it open and jarred the baseball loose from attending Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, a league spokesperson told The Athletic.
Austin Capobianco, 38, from Connecticut, was ejected after the incident in the first inning of the Yankees’ 11-4 win in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Another fan, who ESPN identified as John Peter, was ejected alongside Capobianco.
“Well, A for effort.”
Fan interference was called on this play where a Yankee fan tried to take the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024
The Yankees addressed the situation in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“Last night two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for egregious and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts,” the statement said. “The safety and security of players, fans and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised.
“Tonight marks the final home game of year, and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, however the exuberance of supporting one’s team can never cross the line into intentionally putting players at physical risk. The Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed last night. These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity.”
The Major League Baseball Players Association reached out directly to MLB and encouraged them to ban the two fans for Game 5, per a source briefed on the discussions.
“The MLBPA takes Player safety and security very seriously, including and especially at the ballpark,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement. “As with every incident at the ballpark that affects Players, we have been in regular contact with League security officials since last night’s incident and will be closely tracking both the response to that incident and the protective measures taken going forward, beginning tonight.”
Darren Capobianco said his brother, Austin, is a Yankees season ticket holder. A team spokesman said that it has not been determined what — if any — further action will be taken regarding the future of their tickets. Austin Capobianco didn’t respond to text messages from The Athletic seeking comment Wednesday morning.
After the play, Capobianco tried arguing with stadium security that Betts’ glove had reached into foul territory.
In the bottom of the first inning, with the Yankees losing 2-0, leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres lifted a high pop into right field foul territory. When Betts snagged the ball with his glove above the padded wall, Capobianco gripped Betts’ glove with both hands, opened it, reached inside with his right hand and knocked the ball back onto the field. The umpires ruled the play fan interference and Torres was out.
“It doesn’t matter,” Betts said, when asked if he’d ever seen fans act so aggressively. “We lost, it’s irrelevant, I’m fine, he’s fine, everything’s cool. We lost the game, that’s what I’m kind of focused on, turn the page. Everything’s fine.”
Required reading
(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
