Public ‘Embarrassed’ by Yankees Fans Grabbing the Ball from Mookie Betts at Game – Why Did the Two Men Do It?
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts darted across the Yankee Stadium field to catch a ball that had been hit by New York Yankees player Gleyber Torres during Game 4 of the World Series on October 29.
Mookie Betts during the match between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series in New York City on October 29, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Gunning for Torres’ ball, Betts made a sharp dash toward the wall in foul territory after the Yankees player had just sent a high pop-up arching toward the stands.
With impressive speed and precision, Betts leaped at the wall, with his gloved hand perfectly positioned for what looked like a routine out. Yet, in that split second, two hands reached down from the first row, disrupting the play and sparking an eruption of controversy.
Mookie Betts experiencing fan interference. | Source: Getty Images
Video footage that went viral on platforms like YouTube shows Betts reaching high above the low barrier separating him from the crowd. Just as the ball nestled into his glove, a Yankees fan in a jersey — later identified as Austin Capobianco — latched onto Betts’ glove with both hands.
Austin Capobianco and Mookie Betts. | Source: YouTube/FOX Sports
With a defiant grin, Capobianco yanked Betts’ glove, loosening the baseball player’s grip on the ball. Almost simultaneously, Capobianco’s friend, John Peter, reached down and clasped Betts’ free hand, completing the interference.
Mookie Betts, Austin Capobianco, and John Peter. | Source: YouTube/FOX Sports
Betts’ reaction was immediate and unmistakable. His expression, which was a blend of frustration and disbelief, told the story of an athlete robbed of a moment that had seemed securely within his grasp.
Mookie Betts | Source: YouTube/FOX Sport
Right-field umpire Mark Carlson was quick to make a call, ruling Torres out due to fan interference. Security also responded swiftly, escorting Capobianco and Peter from the stadium.
Right-field umpire Mark Carlson making the ruling and security personnel dealing with the matter. | Source: YouTube/FOX Sports
Speaking to ESPN after the incident, Capobianco unabashedly defended his actions. As a Yankees season-ticket holder, he admitted that he and Peter had often joked about scenarios where they’d help their team if a foul ball drifted into their section.
Austin Capobianco and John Peter. | Source: YouTube/FOX Sports
“We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up,” explained Capobianco, who went to a nearby bar after the game. He painted the moment as a commitment to seizing every opportunity to tilt the game in favor of the Yankees — even if it meant prying the ball from the hands of an opposing player.
Mookie Betts, Austin Capobianco, and John Peter. | Source: YouTube/FOX Sports
Betts, though visibly upset in the moment, later brushed off the incident when asked about it during a press conference. Reporters probed him for his perspective on the fan interaction, eager to capture his reaction to a moment that had already sparked outrage across social media.
Mookie Betts addressing the fan interception in a press conference, posted on October 30, 2024 | Source: YouTube/The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast
When a journalist asked, “What happened with that fan?” the Dodgers star replied, “It’s irrelevant. We lost, it doesn’t matter.” His focus remained resolutely on his team’s loss rather than the bizarre disruption that unfolded in the stands.
Mookie Betts | Source: YouTube/The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast
A follow-up question tried to pull him back to the physicality of the incident, as a journalist expressed concern about Betts’ hand due to how his wrist appeared to have bent awkwardly when the fans grabbed him.
Austin Capobianco, Mookie Betts, and John Peter. | Source: Getty Images
“I didn’t even know he grabbed my hand, so it’s perfectly fine,” assured Betts. As more questions came, his response remained unchanged.
“When it comes to the person in play, it doesn’t matter. We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine. He’s fine. Everything’s cool. We lost the game and that’s what I’m kind of focused on. We got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow,” stated Betts.
