Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Cody Bellinger had to deal with a female fan running onto the field to try to hug him for the second game in a row. On Sunday (June 23), a 15-year-old fan jumped out of the stands at Dodger Stadium and was able to hug her favorite player.
The Ben Maller Show about the incident, saying that it "was a once in a lifetime type thing."
"I had been dying to meet him. I thought to myself I'm young now and this is probably going to be the only time I'll ever be able to meet him," she said. "My mom was in the restroom when I did it. I gave him a hug, and he said, 'You really did that?!' and that's when they tackled me."
On Monday night, Bellinger and the Dodgers traveled to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks where another fan rushed the field. She was able to get close to the Dodgers star before security escorted her off the field while she waved to the crowd.
After the game, Bellinger told the Arizona Republic that he wasn't worried when she approached him and that he expected something might happen after the first incident became a national story.
"I had a feeling that she was harmless. She came around with a phone again. Like I said, it could potentially get dangerous, especially if it keeps getting blown up like it is."
He added that he is worried that the next time it happens, it might not just be a young girl looking to hug her favorite athlete.
"I mean, I'm just trying to play a game. So I don't think I should have to worry about who's going to come on the field and whatnot," he said. "I think it could be dangerous. I know it's innocent right now, but it could be dangerous."