The two Yankees fans who wrenched a foul ball out of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts’s glove on Tuesday night have been barred from Game 5 of the World Series, an MLB source told Front Office Sports.
Austin Capobianco and John Peter told ESPN after they were ejected from Yankee Stadium that they’d be allowed back in for Wednesday’s game. But MLB and the Yankees were in agreement that the duo should be barred, although Capobianco and Peter will receive refunds for their Game 5 seats, the source said.
An NYPD spokesperson told FOS there was no information available as of early Wednesday afternoon regarding whether Capobianco or Peter faced any charges related to the incident.
“I know when I’m in the wrong and as soon as I did it, I was like, ‘Boys, I’m out of here,’” Capobianco told ESPN. “I patrol that wall and they know that.”
Betts leaped at the edge of the wall down the right field line and caught the foul ball hit by Yankees leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres in the bottom half of the first inning when the incident occurred.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Betts said after the Yankees’ 11-4 Game 4 victory, per the Los Angeles Times. “But there’s always a first time for a first.”
"Well, A for effort."
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024
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
The Yankees confirmed the ban in a statement Wednesday afternoon, despite the fans telling ESPN that the Yankees said they’d be welcomed back at the stadium for Game 5.
The statement called the fans’ interference with Betts “egregious and unacceptable,” and said that the team and MLB had a “zero-tolerance policy” about what happened. “These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity,” the statement said.
The fans are season-ticket holders and it was not immediately clear whether their season tickets would be revoked.
The World Series game brings a different dynamic than a regular-season game would. Late-stage playoff games are MLB events, and the league controls more aspects of game operations.
Though there was no disagreement between the team and league, MLB was clear about its intent to not have the fans back.
“Can’t put hands on a player like that,” a league source said.
The MLB Players Association issued a statement after the fans were banned Wednesday.
“The MLBPA takes player safety and security very seriously, including and especially at the ballpark,” executive director Tony Clark said.
“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 the response to that incident and the protective measures taken going forward, beginning tonight.”
