Rob Gronkowski Reveals He Went to College With the Yankees Fan Who Grabbed Mookie Betts: ‘Him Doing That Represents Him Very Well’

Retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski revealed Wednesday that the Yankees fan who grabbed Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts was an old friend.

Early in Game 4 of the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers, Betts ran into foul territory in an effort to catch a fly ball. He then made a leaping grab right next to a section of fans.

One fan, however, made the bewildering decision to try to pry the ball from Betts’s glove. An umpire rightfully called fan interference and the fan — later identified as Austin Capobianco — was removed from Yankee Stadium.

During an appearance on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, Gronkowski claimed he actually went to college with Capobianco.

“This is actually the first time I’m seeing this live,” Gronkowski said, “and here’s a little fun fact: that guy right there grabbing Mookie Betts’s glove was my friend in college.”

Adams was stunned.

“He was on the ice hockey team, the club Arizona Wildcats ice hockey team,” Gronkowski continued, “and let me tell you, the whole hockey team, they were absolute maniacs. They were indescribable, just how wild these guys were — and him doing that represents him very well. I mean, he is all in for his teams. He is all in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loved them so much; and that describes him perfectly, just doing whatever it takes to help his team out.

“He is a beauty, and I just wanna say congratulations for shining when your moment came.”

Gronkowski clarified that he wasn’t condoning the act. He also revealed that he hadn’t spoken to anyone from the ice hockey team in years.

“They were maniacs to a whole other level,” he said. “They were fun, that’s for sure. He’s a fun dude.”