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Infamous MLB ballhawk Zack Hample made his first waves of the 2025 season on Wednesday during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angles Angels. He made himself a part of the action with a controversial home run grab in the top of the first inning.
Hample reached over the outstretched glove of Rays outfielder Christopher Morel, who appeared to have a play on a Kyren Paris two-run bomb. Morel reached up to grab the fly ball, but it landed in Zack Hample’s mitt.
Hample is a well-known YouTube personality that’s gone viral for his baseball affinity. He’s been to numerous ballparks across the country and has secured a collection of over 12,000 baseballs from live games. He started this year’s campaign at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Two of his most valuable pieces of memorabilia are A-Rod’s 3,000th hit and Mike Trout’s first MLB home run. Unfortunately, his antics over the years have often gotten him in hot water.
His list of controversial run-ins includes snaking his way into a military-only ballgame and being accused of stealing baseballs from children. He added to that list on Wednesday.
— Foul Territory (@bsbls885) April 8, 2025
Zack Hample snagged a home run from the grasps of Christopher Morel. The Tampa Bay outfielder might’ve made the play without Hample’s presence.
It’s worth noting that Hample was not called for interference. The home run ruling not overturned. The influencer did nothing wrong according to the MLB rulebook.
Still, the home crowd wasn’t happy. He was booed as he admired his effort on the jumbotron. A day after that contentious catch, a false rumor began circulating social media.
Zack Hample was ‘banned’ from MLB ballparks.
MLB has officially banned notorious ballhawk Zack Hample from attending games for the rest of the season.
(Per @MLB) pic.twitter.com/4LIx2LKCNW
— Talkin’ Basabell (@TalkinBasabell_) April 10, 2025
The fake report stated that Hample’s interference on Wednesday night was cause for an MLB ban. He was not to attend a game for the remainder of the 2025 season.
That rumor was proven to be false. The league never released a statement regarding Hample’s potential banishment. He is allowed to continue visiting professional stadiums as he pleases.
Zack Hample caught wind of the “fake news” while attending another Tampa Bay Rays game. He posted a response on his Instagram story denying the claims.
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“Not banned, LOL,” a caption to his video read. He then went into his reaction.
“Hey everyone, Zack Hample from Steinbrenner Field in Tampa,” he said. “Today’s date is April 10th, 2025. Evidently there’s a post going around that I’m banned from games. Newsflash: Not banned… Don’t fall for fake news.”
Hample would go onto list off details from the contest as evidence that the video was taken in real time. He assured his following that his MLB ballpark ventures will continue over the next six months of the year.
That wasn’t exactly music to the ears of his critics. It shouldn’t be too long before he makes another headline this MLB season.