A man stole a baseball from a young girl during Monday night's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, according to eyewitness accounts and viral social media footage, before he eventually returned the ball, the girl's mother later confirmed. According to the game's broadcast, the theft occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning, shortly after Guardians star Daniel Schneemann hit a two-run home run to right field. An adult fan attempted to catch the ball but dropped it, then wrestled it away from a young girl who tried to retrieve it, according to the Daily Mail.
Tampa Bay's sideline reporter Ryan Bass later gave both the girl and her younger brother a baseball, as seen on the broadcast. During a commercial break, the girl's brother approached the man and asked for the ball back for his sister, according to the Rays broadcast. The man eventually returned the ball, which the girl's mother, Nikki DeVore, confirmed.
Just exercising all of that bonus girl dad energy.
In a social media post, DeVore praised her son's bravery and thanked the Rays organization for their support. Announcers on the broadcast reacted with disbelief, with Andy Freed remarking that the man was not going to steal the ball, and Brian Anderson stating that such behavior could not happen, according to a transcript of the broadcast. On social media, users widely condemned the act, calling it pathetic and greedy.
You know my son went to ask him for the ball, which was so brave. I just have to say thank you to Tampa for broadcasting it, when Cleveland broadcast cut to puppies rather than show the man stealing the ball from a child. I cannot thank Ryan and Tampa enough for making things right. Thank you all for looking out for ALL young baseball fans. It is top notch sportsmanship. My daughter and I cried happy tears. I am so proud of my kids for how they handled tonight, and so proud of Tampa and its fans for ...