There was more fan foul ball drama on Saturday night, this time in Houston.
An Astros fan reached for a foul ball that was being chased down by Angels star Mike Trout.
The ball was headed for the stands and as Trout reached over the wall and caught it, Jared Whalen grabbed the ball at the same time and took it out of Trout’s glove.
Whalen and his son were moved to different seats and the out was not recorded.
The play has been compared to the one in the World Series at Yankee Stadium, when two Yankee fans grabbed Mookie Betts’ arm and ripped the ball out of his glove in Game 4 — earning both an ejection from the game and an indefinite ban from all 30 major league parks.
Whalen said he was aware of the infamous play in The Bronx.
This one was certainly more innocent, with Trout even meeting with Whalen and his son following the game.
Whalen said he was concerned the ball was headed in his son’s direction.
“I just didn’t know what was going on,” Whalen told The Athletic shortly after the incident at Daikin Park while still surrounded by security. “I didn’t realize it was a play. It was coming at my son’s face. I just reached out.”
The play occurred when Houston’s Yainer Diaz hit a fly ball down the right field line into the first row.
Trout seemingly caught the ball, but not for long and the right fielder motioned to the umpires for an interference call- but none was called.
Crew chief Alan Porter bizarrely told a pool reporter that he didn’t know about the Betts play.
“I wasn’t in the World Series,” Porter said about why Saturday’s play was different from the Betts’ play, which was called for interference. “I don’t even remember seeing the play.”
As for Whalen, he said, “I was more looking at the ball coming for my son’s face. I made sure I wasn’t in the field of play. I apologized, and [Trout] nodded his head and we’re good, I think.”
Whalen was allowed to keep the ball and he and his son met with Trout following the game.
“I’ve got kids myself,’’ Trout said. “The way [Whalen] reacted, he obviously didn’t do it on purpose… Well, I don’t know if he didn’t do it on purpose, but just the way he reacted, and his kid, and they got moved. They probably spent hard [earned] money on those tickets.”
