Report: Yankees Fans Who Grabbed Mookie Betts at World Series Banned from MLB Games

Two New York Yankees fans who grabbed Mookie Betts’ wrist while he made a catch at the wall during Game 4 of the World Series have been banned “indefinitely” from MLB stadiums, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post.

MLB wrote in a letter to the fans obtained by the Post that the incident “posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior.”

“Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities,” MLB said.

The league warned the fans they could be arrested for trespassing if found on MLB property, according to Martin.

The fans, identified as Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen, interfered with Betts as he jumped to make a catch in the bottom of the first inning on Oct. 29 at Yankee Stadium. One fan held Betts’ wrist while the other attempted to pry the ball out of his glove.

Hansen and Capobianco were ejected from Game 4 and banned from Game 5. The Yankees and MLB “jointly” banned the pair from Yankee Stadium before MLB decided to prohibit them from attending any league event, per Martin.

Capobianco told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers after the game that the incident had been part of his and Hansen’s plan to “D up” if a foul ball came to them at the wall.

Capobianco later acknowledged in an interview with Barstool Sports (h/t the Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel) that they “crossed the line” by grabbing Betts’ wrist.

The Yankees said in a statement following the incident that the fans’ actions had been “egregious and unacceptable.”

“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,” the Yankees said.

The Yankees then announced the pair’s Game 5 tickets had been given to a pediatric cancer patient and their family.

Betts, who shrugged off the incident immediately after the game, expressed frustration with the fans months after the Dodgers bounced back from the Game 4 loss to win the World Series.

“I get them trying to get the ball. Cool. But, like, you tried to grab my s–t,” Betts said about the moment in a December appearance on Peacock’s 2024 Back That Year Up With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson.

Betts continued: “I was in the moment. So I thought about throwing a ball at them. And then I realized, ‘Mook, you ain’t gonna do s–t. Go back to right field.'”

Initial reports from ESPN described Capobianco and Hansen both as season ticket holders. Martin reported the pair was sitting in seats owned by another season ticket holder, who was not in attendance at Game 4 and supported MLB’s ban.

The ticket holder, who has held the tickets since 1990, will be allowed to keep the seats, according to Martin.