Atlanta Braves reporter flirts with fan and gets her number live on-air during Blue Jays game

The Atlanta Braves broadcast team is under fire for an in-game segment that many viewers are calling unprofessional and inappropriate. During Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, FanDuel Sports Network reporter Wiley Ballard was conducting a routine sideline interview when the exchange veered into controversial territory.
While hosting “The Field Report” in the top of the fifth inning, Ballard interviewed two women about their Braves fandom. One of them, identified as “Lauren,” said she was “not quite” a Braves fan yet. As the segment wrapped, Ballard attempted to transition back to the main booth with play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin and analyst C.J. Nitkowski.
Ballard: “I’m gonna go to work up here, guys. Good luck the rest of the way.”
Gaudin: “Ok, Wiley. You got four innings to get the numbers.”
Ballard: “I’m on it. I’m on it. I’m on it.”
Ballard then pulled out his phone and addressed Lauren.
Ballard: “Alright, so they want me to get your number.”
Lauren: “They want you to get my number?”
Ballard: “I’m dead serious. They’re saying it in my ear right now.”
Turning back to the camera, Ballard continued:
Ballard: “She doesn’t believe me because she thinks you guys, she thinks we’re making this up. Even if you guys weren’t, I may use that in the future. It’s actually a pretty good move.”
Gaudin: “This is unbelievable.”
Nitkowski: “So the best part about this is Wiley could totally be faking it. This might be the new move. Just walk around with a fake FanDuel microphone and an earpiece in and convince fans that they’re actually on TV.”
As the cameras kept rolling, Lauren appeared to type her number into Ballard’s phone.
Ballard: “I got the number. We’re good.”
The moment quickly went viral on social media, drawing split reactions. Some fans praised the light-hearted nature of the segment, but others, including members of the journalism and broadcasting communities, condemned it as unprofessional and misogynistic. Critics pointed out the double standards faced by male and female reporters, with many noting that a female reporter pulling a similar stunt would likely face much harsher repercussions.

After the game, Gaudin and Nitkowski both lauded Ballard’s performance. Gaudin even referred to it on X (formerly Twitter) as “The Wiley Ballard game”, accompanied by a cell phone emoji.

Despite the support from his broadcast partners, the segment has drawn intense scrutiny, prompting conversations about professionalism, workplace boundaries, and the role of humor in live sports coverage. Neither Ballard nor the Braves broadcast team has issued a public statement addressing the controversy as of yet.