Angels Fire 'Baseball Spy' Scout
The Los Angeles Angels have terminated the employment of scout Justin Prinstein, who was widely known on social media as "The Baseball Spy." The move came after the team discovered that Prinstein had used his phone to record the Rockies' coaching staff at Coors Field ahead of a three‑game series in June.
The footage, later circulated online, revealed a clear violation of MLB rules that forbid the use of electronic devices to steal or decode opposing teams' signs. MLB confirmed that no additional disciplinary action would be taken against the Angels beyond the internal measures already imposed.
The Angels' front office issued a public apology to the Rockies' front office, acknowledging the breach of protocol and stating that the organization would reinforce its compliance with league policies. The story was first broken by The Athletic, which obtained the internal memo confirming Prinstein's dismissal.
The incident follows a series of high‑profile sign‑stealing scandals, most notably the Houston Astros case, which prompted MLB to tighten its rules on video surveillance and in‑game technology. In the weeks after the Astros investigation, the league issued new directives limiting the placement of cameras and the use of real‑time replay for sign‑stealing purposes.
During the same June series, the Rockies won two of the three games against the Angels, but the focus quickly shifted to the internal fallout within the Los Angeles organization. Prinstein had previously worked for the Cincinnati Reds and for several clubs in South Korea before joining the Angels.