During Monday night’s game, Atlanta Braves sideline reporter Wiley Ballard became well-known in the baseball world for an unusual in-game interview. Ballard approached two women for a live interview in the top of the fifth inning. Initially discussing their baseball fandom, the situation shifted when Ballard asked one of the women, Lauren, for her phone number on camera. The broadcasters joked about using Ballard’s job to pick up women, leading to backlash from reporters and media professionals citing double standards and unprofessional behavior.
The interaction raised concerns about power dynamics and professionalism, as Ballard seemingly used his platform for personal reasons while his colleagues encouraged the behavior. The situation was criticized for being inappropriate and potentially creepy. However, Ballard and his colleague, C.J. Nitkowski, celebrated the moment on social media, with Nitkowski even naming Ballard one of the “players of the game.”
The incident highlighted issues of gender dynamics and professionalism in sports reporting, sparking a debate about what is acceptable behavior in such settings.
On April 15, 2025, Brandon Gaudin referred to Monday’s 8-4 victory by the Braves as “The Wiley Ballard game.” Ballard became the team’s dugout reporter in 2024 and was honored as the Georgia Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association that year.
