Major League Baseball recently put bat/ball boys and girls on notice for job performance, so we really can’t blame the San Francisco Giants’ ball dude for giving max effort on the play.
Oakland A’s outfielder Conner Capel might have a different opinion on the matter, though. His nifty sliding catch was taken away by a rarely seen MLB rule.
During the sixth inning of the Giants’ spring training game against the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park, Bryce Johnson hit a foul ball down the left-field line and towards the tarp. The Giants’ ball dude was stationed right at the tarp, and rather than getting out of the way, he tried to make a play on the ball.
The problem: Capel was right there to make a play too.
Foul territory belongs exclusively to this Ball Dude pic.twitter.com/mdqydlueOd
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 28, 2023
Initially, it looked like Capel came up with the ball and made a nice catch. But the umpires correctly ruled that the ball had hit the ball dude’s glove first, making it a foul ball. According to MLB rules, the ball boy/girl is considered part of the tarp on a foul ball. Interference can be called for live balls if there’s intent from the ball boy/girl. But in this case, it was just a foul ball despite Capel coming up with the baseball (and it not hitting the ground).
Luckily for the A’s the play wasn’t costly. It was an exhibition game that they were already leading by nine runs, and Johnson would end up striking out to end the inning.
Still, MLB fans had thoughts on the bizarre sequence and rule.
This was how Twitter reacted
Is that not interference ? https://t.co/L9pknkoXQN
— ZACH THE MUMMER (@thezachhattackk) March 28, 2023
Typical SF ball boy… https://t.co/ykYgRLKTDa
— nicky einess (@einess_nicky) March 28, 2023
I think I would've called it for the #As.
The ball guy is supposed to get out of the way isn't he? https://t.co/gG0csPe8WC— Mike Fly (@mfly1971) March 28, 2023
Why in the hell would the ball boy make a play on a pop fly??!? Literally his job NOT TO!! @SFGiants really need to change their hiring process/candidates for people who can do/understand the job! https://t.co/JVgT6vDNGy
— Edward Sippo (@sipp22) March 28, 2023
Replay is so good https://t.co/SGym8TUscQ
— Doug Kezirian (@DougESPN) March 28, 2023
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/ZNGZZveGko
— Enrique Gutiérrez (@henrygutierrezp) March 28, 2023
This has been the most hilarious spring training I can remember 😂 https://t.co/0v52uJNfvh
— Jacob (@j_love2823) March 28, 2023
Spring Training is the only thing keeping me from being really mad about this. GET OUTTA THE WAY BALLDUDE!! https://t.co/wtH83DhxS3
— Andrew Johnston (@ThunderbirdRay) March 28, 2023
Bro thought he was on the team
— Eric Baartman (@EricBaartman) March 28, 2023
He really should have known to get out of the way, but better for it to happen in spring training than a meaningful game.
