Zack Hample, the YouTuber and self-proclaimed ballhawk, has long been a controversial figure in Major League Baseball. Known for catching baseballs and amassing a personal collection, his antics have once again drawn widespread backlash. Fans are now calling for his ban from every stadium after his latest stunt interfered with a crucial game.

To date, Zack Hample has caught more than 4,600 baseballs from 48 stadiums, which were later displayed as a collection to promote his business on a personalized ballhawking experience named “Watch With Zack.” Although the Rays lost 3-4, the play proved to be a pivotal moment in the game. Known MLB blogger and podcaster Dan Clark took to his X handle, sharing his discontent and stating, “The time has come to ban Zack Hample from every MLB stadium. The guy is a 47-year-old who gets his rocks off collecting baseballs, and he is happy to push kids out of the way or interfere with games to do so. He is a certified f—— loser.”

During the aforementioned faceoff in Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field, Rays’ outfielder Christopher Morel was a few inches away from making a catch to prevent the Angels from getting a pair of runs. But what happened that left the fans in a frenzy—something that didn’t stop them from lambasting him?

With the game underway, Hample reached over and caught the ball before Morel had the chance, leading the umpires to rule it a two-run home run for Angels infielder Kyren Paris. The Rays challenged the play for potential fan interference; after review, the umpires upheld the home run ruling.

Morel was positioned to make the catch, but Hample reached out and snagged the ball just before it landed in his glove, sparking controversy. The 47-year-old notorious ball catcher rose to fame as a baseball collector, and this time, his presence along the outfield wall allowed the Angels to earn two runs, which were the only runs that the Angels managed to garner in the first six innings.

While some admired Hample’s passion for collecting baseballs, his recent actions have drawn severe criticism—not only from fans but also from prominent baseball commentators like Dan Clark.

Zack Hample’s notorious act during the game left fans in a frenzy

The Rays-Angels game didn’t just leave fans with questions about the team—it left them talking about Zack Hample, albeit for some bad reasons. One of the fans said, “Wow, imagine being disliked by the entire MLB community,” reminding everyone that it’s not the first time Hample did the same thing. Hample has faced past accusations of aggressively collecting balls, including instances where he allegedly took balls meant for kids.

One X user agreed with MLB writer Dan Clark, commenting, “Correct you are,” agreeing with what MLB writer Dan Clark said. While some may see fan catches as part of the excitement, interference can disrupt the game and alter its outcome. The fan’s unvarnished honesty shows that everyone wants Hample to leave the stadium so he does not purposefully make the same mistake twice.

While many seem to agree with the way Dan Clark spoke about him, joining the voices of other fans as well, an Angels fan considers Zack Hample not at fault. He said, “If his glove is behind the fence, it’s not interference.” This suggests he believes that as long as a fan’s glove is beyond the outfield fence, it does not count as interference. However, if a player is about to catch the ball but a fan interferes, should it still count as a home run?

While it may sound correct to some fans, it cannot be denied that what could have been an extraordinary catch for Christopher Morel turned out to be a home run. Regardless, the Rays will now have to focus on tightening their defense moving forward. One fan voices concern, writing, “Play better defense if you want it to stop.” There were a few instances when their defense came onto the radar, and it happened yet again when Rays’ starter Shane Baz gave away the two-run homer.

And finally, another fan took a funny dig at the incident. “Most fans would’ve gone for that ball,” he was quoted saying. Honestly, it’s true—who does not want to get a ball that’s coming right at them, especially a home run ball, right?

This incident has reignited debates about fan interference and whether MLB should implement stricter policies to prevent collectors like Hample from impacting the game. While some argue he was within his rights, others believe his actions unfairly altered the course of play. What do you think? Should Zack Hample be banned from MLB stadiums?