Angels avoid MLB punishment over illegal recording incident

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jul 22, 2026, 10:46 AM

Last updated Jul 22, 2026

Angels avoid MLB punishment over illegal recording incident
Summary

The Los Angeles Angels will not face punishment from Major League Baseball regarding an incident involving scout Justin Prinstein, who recorded members of the Colorado Rockies coaching staff during a scouting trip. After the Angels promptly fired Prinstein, who dubbed himself ‘The Baseball Spy,’ and apologized to the Rockies, MLB determined that he acted independently and without the team's instruction. This follows heightened scrutiny of recording practices since the Houston Astros controversy in 2020. The Angels look to move past this incident, which has drawn negative attention to the franchise.

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By the Numbers
  • Angels fired scout Justin Prinstein for filming Rockies coaches.
  • MLB concluded no punishment is warranted for the team.
  • Prinstein acted on his own, not at the team's direction.
  • Angels apologized to the Rockies for the unauthorized recording.
  • Prior scrutiny of recording practices has heightened since 2020.
Latest Updates
  • 6:49 PMYahoo SportsAngels reportedly fire self-proclaimed 'Baseball Spy' after he was caught filming Rockies coaches
  • 10:46 AMYahoo SportsLA Angels learn if they’ll be punished by MLB for ‘The Baseball Spy’ illegal recording incident
What they're saying
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Los Angeles Angels fired their scout for filming the Colorado Rockies coaching staff, but they were at risk of facing punishment from the MLB. Justin Prinstein, the Angels scout who called himself ‘The Baseball Spy,’ garnered a lot of controversy when he used his cellphone to record Rockies coaches during a scouting trip.

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Justin Prinstein was in his first season as a pro scout with the Angels before he was fired.

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