The Yankees fan who dramatically attempted to rip the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove has spoken out after being thrown out of the World Series clash.
Tuesday’s game in the Bronx took a foul turn early on when Betts leaped towards the stands to catch a hit from Gleyber Torres at the bottom of the first. However, after the Los Angeles star grabbed the ball, the fan – later identified as Austin Capobianco – forcefully tried to muscle the ball out of Betts’ glove.
Unsurprisingly, the outfielder was not happy with Copabianco’s attempt to claw the ball away after he caught it. After being escorted out of the arena, the 38-year-old from Connecticut broke his silence.
‘I just want to watch the game,’ wrote shortly before Anthony Volpe’s third inning grand slam caused the stadium to erupt, per The Athletic.
A clip of Copabianco and another fan who tried to snag the ball getting approached by security and led to the exit drew attention on social media. The sold-out stadium then began to boo their expulsion as they received high-fives and handshakes on their way out.
The Yankees fan who tried to rip a ball off Mookie Betts’ glove spoke out after the incident
Austin Capobianco (left), a season ticket holder from Connecticut, was ejected for his antics
Capobianco’s brother, Darren, 29, insisted that he saw Betts’ glove go over the wall as he tried to make a catch on Torres’ hit. He also noted that his brother is a season ticket holder.
‘I just see the ball kind of — I don’t want to say (go) up for grabs, if that makes sense,’ Darren said. ‘And then Mookie was swearing at us. Not good.’
Nevertheless, Betts reacted furiously, screaming towards the fans who pleaded their innocence. The footage, however, shows Copabianco forcefully opening Betts’ glove before the ball flung out and fell into the field.
Cobabianco could be seen grinning his teeth as he tried to wrestle the ball out of Betts’ grip. Meanwhile, the fan to his left held Betts’ wrist during the tussle.
While the umpires ruled a catch, fans took to social media to criticize the dangerous antics.
‘Oh man that’s dangerous,’ one fan wrote. ‘Those fans should be banned for life. No excuse for touching a player.’
‘I’d ban him for life. I’m a Yankees fan and it was gross,’ another added.
‘Good! They deserved it,’ a third chimed in. ‘As a Yankee fan I am embarrassed to see this despicable behavior.’
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