Two infamous New York Yankees fans won’t be able to ‘D up’ in a bid to help their team in Game 5 of the World Series.
MLB and the Yankees will ban two fans who interfered on a foul ball in Game 4 from Game 5, per a statement issued by the team on Wednesday. The fans’ tickets will be refunded, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch later reported that the tickets used by the fans have been re-distributed to a pediatric cancer patient and his family.
On Tuesday, a fan in the first row in foul territory in right field grabbed the ball out of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts’ glove on a pop-up by Gleyber Torres in the first inning. Another fan grabbed Betts’ non-glove hand.
The umpires immediately ruled fan interference and called Torres out as an angry Betts reacted. Both fans were ejected from the game.
The Yankees called the fans’ actions “egregious and unacceptable physical contact.”
“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 team said.
“Tonight marks the final home game of year, and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, however, the exuberance of supporting one’s team can never cross the line into intentionally putting players at physical risk.”
ESPN identified the glove grabber as Austin Capobianco and the other fan as his friend, John Peter.
Capobianco, a Yankees season-ticket holder, told ESPN he and Peter often had talked about a similar scenario before it occurred.
“We always joke about the ball in our area,” Capobianco, 38, said. “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up.
“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
The two fans told ESPN on Tuesday that they were informed they’d be allowed in for Game 5. The Yankees won Game 4 to stave off elimination, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.
“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. “I patrol that wall and they know that.”
In another twist, former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski said he was pals with Capobianco back in their days at the University of Arizona on “Up & Adams” on FanDuel TV. He said Capobianco played on the club hockey team at the school.
“Him doing that represents him very well,” Gronkowski said. “I mean, he is all in for his teams. He is all in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loves them so much. And that describes him perfectly. Just doing whatever it takes to help his team out. He is a beauty.
“I just want to say congratulations for shining when your moment came.”
Capobianco is listed as having 40 points in 41 games for Arizona in 2008 and ’09.
It was the second instance of fan interference in the series: In Game 1, a Dodgers fan pulled a ball into the crowd on a drive to the outfield wall by Torres. It was then ruled a double.
It also wasn’t the first time a Yankees fan has been involved in a notable fan interference incident.
Then-12-year-old Jeffrey Maier became famous after he caught a Derek Jeter fly ball that Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco seemed to have a shot at. There was no replay review at the time and it was ruled a home run.