Two New York Yankees fans have been banned from attending Game 5 of the World Series after interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts in Game 4. The Yankees announced that the fans, Austin Capobianco and John Peter, will not be permitted to attend the game in any capacity due to their “egregious and unacceptable” behavior. It is unclear if the ban will extend to future Yankee Stadium games next season.
The incident occurred when Betts caught a foul popup along the right-field line in the first inning. Capobianco and Peter grabbed Betts’ glove, causing him to drop the ball, resulting in Gleyber Torres being called out for fan interference. This led to the fans being ejected from the game.
The Yankees emphasized the importance of player safety and security, stating that the passion of fans should never endanger players. They gave the fans’ Game 5 tickets to an ill child and his family who were unable to attend a previous event at the ballpark. Capobianco mentioned that he hopes for a short-term ban and expressed a desire to retain his season tickets.
MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark stated that the union will closely monitor the incident and the measures taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future. New York manager Aaron Boone condemned the fans’ actions, emphasizing that there is no place for such behavior in baseball.
Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo commented on the incident, noting that while it was extreme, it was somewhat expected in New York due to the passionate nature of the fans. He added that Betts handled the situation well, showing resilience in the face of adversity.
This incident is not the first time Torres has been impacted by fan interference in the World Series, as a similar situation occurred in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. The MLB and the Players Association are committed to ensuring player safety and will take necessary measures to prevent future incidents.
