feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

Cam Devanney was on his way home Friday night when his phone rang. On the other end was Triple-A Indianapolis manager Shawn Bowman with the news every ballplayer dreams of: he was heading to Boston to join the Pirates! Reportedly, the call-up came after Ronny Simon landed on the 10-day IL with a dislocated shoulder.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

And guess what, Devanney’s big-league dream turned real in the third inning, when he notched his first career hit, a single to left. But the moment didn’t stay sweet for long. Fans quickly noticed on video that Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan kept the ball and tossed it back in for the next pitch, rather than letting it be saved as a milestone souvenir. The move sparked a wave of backlash online, with many calling it a shady stunt by the Dodgers. More so, Padres veteran Eric Hosmer also came down hard against Sheehan for deliberately sabotaging a rookie moment.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Pending more information…. Another all-time sc*mbag move,” Hosmer reshared Ben Verlander’s post showing a slow-motion video of how Sheehan replaced the souvenir ball with another.

ADVERTISEMENT

Well, in the slowed-down clip, you can see Emmet Sheehan grab a fresh ball from the umpire, then go to toss back the one Devanney had just put in play. But instead, it looks like he makes a quick switch. Thus, keeping Devanney’s ball tucked in his glove to use again. Yes, there’s no official word confirming that’s what really happened, but Pirates fans weren’t buying any excuses.

ADVERTISEMENT

They shared the video all over social media, insisting the Dodgers signaled for Sheehan to hang onto the ball.

ADVERTISEMENT

Weird? Definitely. But the story still had the ending fans were hoping for. Despite the online outrage, Devanney cleared the air afterward, saying he and Sheehan go back to their minor league days. And yes, he did end up with the right ball in his hands. “I’m not entirely sure what happened. I actually found out just moments ago, but I think I did get the right one,” Devanney said.

The Dodgers have no dearth of controversies this year

This latest incident involving Sheehan is just an addition to the long list of controversies by the Dodgers this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Remember when the Dodgers found themselves in the middle of that immigration controversy in L.A.? Reportedly, back in June, during federal enforcement actions near Dodger Stadium, the team’s silence didn’t sit well with the Latino community. They eventually explained that ICE agents were never let into the ballpark, but by then, protests had already flared up over what many saw as discrimination and poor communication!

Wait, there’s more…

ADVERTISEMENT

Add in the cloud around former pitcher Julio Urias and his suspension. And hence, it’s clear that the Dodgers have already had their share of off-field headaches that put their brand under the microscope. So when this ball controversy with Cam Devanney popped up, the rookie confirmed he got the milestone ball back. But fans were quick to pile on with fresh ridicule toward the Dodgers.

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Sourav Kumar Ghatak

1,835 Articles

Sourav Kumar Ghatak is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports, reporting from the MLB desk with a focus on delivering engaging daily baseball content. Known for his versatility, Sourav covers a wide range of baseball topics, blending strategic analysis with compelling storytelling. He is recognized for his sharp instinct in capturing the essence of key moments, including recent work on stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Sourav holds a postgraduate in Marketing. Prior to joining EssentiallySports, he worked as a professional freelancer and project manager team lead, gaining extensive experience in leadership and content development. He continues to grow as a key voice in baseball journalism, combining his passion for the sport with his marketing expertise to create impactful content.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Snehal Dogra

ADVERTISEMENT