Phils, Marlins rally around young fan after HR ball taken away

MIAMI — The Philadelphia Phillies invited a young fan to meet Harrison Bader following their 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night after an apparent dispute over a home run ball hit by the center fielder during the game.

Bader hit a solo home run into the left-field stands in the fourth inning at LoanDepot Park. Several fans scrambled for the ball before a man came up with it and walked over and gave it to the boy and hugged him. Both were wearing Phillies gear.

Moments later, a woman, also wearing Philadelphia apparel, approached and appeared to shout at the man, who then grabbed the ball from the boy and gave it to her.

It wasn’t clear from videos circulating on social media who initially secured the ball when it landed.

Later in the game, a member of the Marlins’ staff was seen giving the boy a prize pack, and he ended up going home with a signed bat from Bader, who met with him outside the Phillies’ clubhouse after the game.

Going home with a signed bat from Bader pic.twitter.com/pCaXHSjLgL

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 6, 2025

The bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media and comes just days after another viral memorabilia-snatching moment in which a man took tennis player Kamil Majchrzak’s hat from a young fan at the US Open and was widely criticized for the act.

That man apologized on social media Monday and said he has returned the hat.