Two fans were removed from Louisville Slugger Field after a “verbal altercation” with an Indianapolis Indians player during the team’s July 2 series opener with the Louisville Bats.
Louisville Bats Baseball Senior Vice President of Operations Brett Myers told The Courier Journal that two juvenile fans were removed from the stadium in the bottom of the eighth inning at the discretion of the umpires and per MLB policy due to the altercation with Indianapolis Indians outfielder Ji Hwan Bae.
Myers said that per MLB policy, he cannot disclose if the comments from the fans were directed at Bae’s racial background. Bae, who previously played for the Pittsburg Pirates, is a native of South Korea.
According to the Bats fan code of conduct, guests are prohibited from using foul, obscene or derogatory language or gestures and behaving in a manner that is disruptive, unruly, or abusive. Derogatory language is defined as “offensive language concerning a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national origin,” and those engaging in the use of such language are subject to automatic ejection from the ballpark.
The ejection of the fans follow threats and abuse directed at players and their families receiving increased attention in recent years, with many of the incidents tied to sports gamblers. There have also been cases of fans being ejected for racial slurs and just recently, a Chicago White Sox fan was banned from games after he brought Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte to tears by reportedly harassing him about his late mother, according to a report from CBS News.
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2 fans ejected from Louisville Bats game after altercation with Indianapolis Indians player
Reporting by Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
