Mookie Betts had "every right" to punch disruptive fan in the face during Game 4, says ex-World Series winner
LA Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts had to endure disruptive behavior from two Yankees fans who interfered with a fly ball in Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. Supporting Betts was fellow baseball player and former World Series champion Eric Hosmer, who criticized an ESPN reporter for seemingly glorifying the fans.
In the first inning, Betts caught the fly ball of Gleyber Torres near the right field wall. Just above him, two Yankees fans — now identified as Austin Capobianco and John Peter — interfered and tried to grab the ball from him, with one even tugging at Mookie's wrist, a move that could have injured the Dodgers slugger.
Jesse Rogers, an ESPN reporter, met Capobianco and Peter after the game. He wrote an article where both fans explained their actions. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rogers seemed to commend the two fans, even referring to Capobianco as "a beaut."
The post sparked widespread backlash — and Eric Hosmer was especially vocal about it on social media. One fan questioned whether it was wrong to believe that Mookie would have been justified in punching that guy in the teeth when he began twisting his wrist.
Hosmer replied:
"He honestly had every right too," Hosmer replied.
Eric Hosmer is proud of how Mookie Betts handled the situation while taking a dig at Jesse Rogers
Despite the rough incident with the two fans, Mookie Betts handled things nicely and didn't get much involved with the fans after the umpire called it out on fan interference.
However, Hosmer didn't like how Jesse Rogers wrote an article on them, which seemed to celebrate the fans' behavior.
"What a joke❗️" Hosmer wrote on X.
"Couple things here, I hope all current/future players take note on how PRO Mookie has handled this whole situation. I also hope you guys start recognizing these type of reporters and stop giving them access and your time if this is what they choose to promote. Give them the 🥾 just like the Pads gave Ken. What a 💩 article."
The fans were banned from Game 5, where Mookie Betts and the Dodgers eventually captured their eighth World Series title in franchise history.