Another fan player controversy involving a bad ball found its way to the MLB stage on Saturday night, this time Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout and a Houston Astros protector involved.
Yanier Diaz from Houston clouded a ball down the right field line, and trout began to trace it all the way to the edge of the seats.
That’s when he jumped to catch the ball only to get it ripped out of Astros fan Jared Whale out of his glove.
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Los Angeles Angels Right Fielder Mike Trout goes on the field before the game against Houston Astros at Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina-Preferred Pictures)
MLB fans on social media immediately compared the situation with the 2024 World Series when New York Yankees fans took the ball and glove from Los Angeles Dodgers Star Mookie Betts’ hand and caused their draft. These fans also received an indefinite ban from all 30 Big League Ballparks.
However, there is an important difference in this situation because the whale was in his right to grab the ball because it was in bad territory. He never crossed the border to get the catch a la Steve Bartman on the fateful day at Wrigley Field.
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The whale spoke to the athletic after the match and said he was simply defending his son when the ball was heading in his direction.
“I just didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “I didn’t realize it was a theater piece. It came to my son’s face. I just reached out.”
Los Angeles Angels Right Fielder Mike Trout (27) greets Houston Astros’s second Baseman Jose Altuve before the game at Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina-Preferred Pictures)
Trout appeared as if he wanted to make a tremendously bad game and he was warmed up when a judge simply called it a bad ball.
Security came down to tackle the whal but he was not pushed out of the game. Instead, he and his son were moved to various seats.
Then, after Angels’ 4-1 victory over Astros, Trout met with the whale and his son in the Daikin Park tunnel. Trout was heard tell the whale that he appreciated his reaction and the whale said he did not mean any bad will against the angels Outfielder. He even offered the ball back to trout.
Trout, which gave Whalen’s son a signed bat, signed the bad ball that his father caught.
Los Angeles Angels Right Fielder Mike Trout goes in dugout before the game against Houston Astros at Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina-Preferred Pictures)
Trout went 1-for-4 with two RBI in the victory, while colleague Outfielder Taylor Ward went 2-for-5 with a Homer. Nolan Schanuel also put one out in the victory.
