Filming Coaches From The Stands: The Angels Fired Their ‘Baseball Spy’ Scout And MLB Is Watching

The Los Angeles Angels officially showed a pro scout the door after it came out he was caught filming the Colorado Rockies’ coaching staff with his cell phone. This guy, who even called himself “The Baseball Spy,” got canned fast after the Rockies dropped the dime on him to MLB. It’s a wild story that makes you wonder what some teams are really doing to get an edge.

“The Baseball Spy” Gets Caught

Turns out this “Baseball Spy,” whose real name is Justin Prinstein, was chilling in a scout section at Coors Field. Before the Angels even played the Rockies from June 1-3 at Angel Stadium, Prinstein was apparently caught red-handed filming coaches. A member of the Rockies organization saw it, they weren’t having it, and they went straight to MLB. Talk about a swift response: then-Angels GM Perry Minasian wasted no time, firing Prinstein on the spot and sending apologies to the Rockies front office. Both teams are saying he was a lone wolf on this one, and it looks like the Angels aren’t gonna get hit with any fines or bans from MLB.

Why Even Film When Tech Is Everywhere?

Here’s the kicker: filming generally isn’t against the rules for scouts. But using tech to actually steal or decode signs? That’s a huge NO. And honestly, what’s the point these days? Multiple MLB scouts from four different organizations are saying there’s zero legal reason to film a game. You got televised broadcasts with a bazillion angles, and teams have all the tech they need to upload and analyze that stuff till the cows come home. Prinstein, who the Angels brought on as an evaluator and analyst back in December, had a history with the Reds, Orioles, and even as a European scout for the Astros. He’s gone quiet since all this, locking down his X account and ignoring interview requests. Kinda makes you wonder what was really going on.

The Rockies actually snagged two out of three games against the Angels after all this went down. You gotta wonder if this kind of old-school, shady scouting is even worth it when you’ve got broadcasts and analytics giving you everything you need. It makes you think about the integrity of the game. What’s the line, and who’s gonna push it next?

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Bleacher Report.