The Los Angeles Angels have fired scout Justin Prinstein, who goes by the moniker 'The Baseball Spy,' for allegedly filming coaches of the Colorado Rockies. The incident occurred while Prinstein was on assignment just before the Angels were scheduled to host the Rockies in early June.
A member of the Colorado organization reportedly observed Prinstein in the stands with a cellphone in his hand, recording the Rockies' coaches. Despite the general legality of scouting through observation and filming, Angels General Manager Perry Minasian promptly dismissed Prinstein and issued an apology to the Rockies' front office, including team president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and General Manager Josh Byrnes.
According to reports, Prinstein acted independently, and Major League Baseball is not expected to penalize the Angels. The specific content Prinstein was filming remains unclear.
This event occurs in the wake of Major League Baseball's increased scrutiny on electronic data usage and attempts to gain an unfair advantage, following the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal in 2020. MLB has since implemented stricter rules regarding video and other technological aids.
Prinstein was hired by the Angels in December. Prior to his tenure with the Angels, he worked as an international scout for the Cincinnati Reds starting in 2023. Before joining the Reds, Prinstein contributed to articles as a freelancer and hosted a podcast titled 'The Baseball Spy,' which covered the Astros' sign-stealing controversy. The podcast aired sporadically between 2019 and 2024.