Yankees Fan in Mookie Betts Incident Banned from Next World Series Game

The Yankees fan who held down Dodgers star Mookie Betts‘ glove in an attempt to pry the baseball out of his hands will not be allowed to return for Game 5.

The Yankees released an official statement on Wednesday, Oct. 30 following the incident between Betts, 32, and the fan identified by ESPN as Austin Capobianco. His friend, John Peter, also grabbed Betts’ non-glove hand during the play.

“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 Yankees said, adding that “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.”

Capobianco, 38, spoke to ESPN at a local bar following his and Peter’s ejection from Yankee Stadium, telling the outlet he has no regrets about interfering with the World Series and that he and Peter “always joke about” hypothetical situations of what they’d do if the ball approached their “area” of the stadium.

“We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up,” Capobianco said. “Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”

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Still, Capobianco knew his actions would result in an ejection. “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 said, per ESPN. “I patrol that wall and they know that.”

The incident took place in the bottom of the first inning when Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres hit a deep foul ball to right field. Betts — who later called the moment “irrelevant” to Los Angeles’ Game 4 loss — ran to the wall and leaped to make the catch.

Capobianco interfered though, grabbing the right fielder’s glove and trying to remove the ball. Peter then appeared to grab Betts’ wrist while the Dodgers star appeared irate at their behavior.

Betts told ESPN, “When it comes to the person in play, it doesn’t matter,” after the Dodgers 11-4 defeat in New York. “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.”

Game 4 on Tuesday was the Yankees’ last chance to keep the World Series going. The Dodgers won the first three games of the series, including Game 1 on a dramatic walk-off Grand Slam by Freddie Freeman. 

The first pitch in Game 5 of the World Series will be thrown at 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 30.