The Los Angeles Angels fired pro scout Justin "Boomer" Prinstein shortly after he was spotted using a cell phone to record Colorado Rockies coaches during a game earlier this season, sources told Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum of The Athletic.
Prinstein, who calls himself "the Baseball Spy," was seen filming in the stands at Coors Field by a member of the Rockies before the teams played a three-game series in Los Angeles from June 1-3, according to Ghiroli and Blum.
Scouts are permitted to film, but MLB prohibits using technology to steal or decode signs.
Soon after the incident occurred, the Rockies reportedly informed the league, which led to the Angels being notified. Former Angels general manager Perry Minasian then immediately fired Prinstein and apologized to the Rockies' front office, sources told Ghiroli and Blum.
Los Angeles reportedly isn't facing a potential punishment, as both teams involved believe Prinstein acted independently.
The league, both teams, and Prinstein all declined to comment on the incident, according to Ghiroli and Blum.
Prinstein, whom the Angels hired in December, previously worked for the Cincinnati Reds as an international scout in 2023 before spending two years with a pair of KBO clubs in South Korea. The 42-year-old owns the handle @TheBaseballSpy on X and once had a podcast named "The Baseball Spy," per Ghiroli and Blum.
