Chaos briefly erupted at Yankee Stadium last night when a fan wearing an Aaron Judge pinstriped jersey sprinted onto the field, evading security in dramatic fashion before being tackled and handcuffed near right field. The entire wild scene — from his first steps out of center field to his final takedown — was caught on camera and has since gone viral across social media.
The unidentified man, now confirmed by NYPD sources as 23-year-old Jason Mercado from the Bronx, shocked fans in attendance during the bottom of the 6th inning when he leapt over the outfield wall in center field and took off running at full speed across the pristine grass. Clad in a No. 99 Yankees jersey, Mercado zigzagged past startled players and outfield staff, even raising his arms in triumph at one point before security finally converged on him near the warning track in right field.
Video footage shows Mercado attempting to outrun multiple stadium security guards in what some fans jokingly called “the fastest sprint in Yankee Stadium this season.” Unfortunately for him, his brief moment of glory ended abruptly when three officers tackled him simultaneously, bringing him to the ground to loud cheers and gasps from the crowd.
“He was smiling the whole time like it was a game. It was crazy,” said one fan who captured the scene on their phone. “But the crowd was eating it up — you’d think Aaron Judge himself was sprinting the bases.”
Authorities say Mercado is facing multiple charges, including trespassing, resisting arrest, and public intoxication. He was taken into custody shortly after being escorted off the field and is expected to appear in court later this week.
Yankees officials have yet to make a formal statement but confirmed that no players were in danger during the incident and that security protocols were followed appropriately.
While fans have made light of the moment online — with memes, edits, and even parody highlight reels — the team and stadium authorities are treating the breach seriously, noting that on-field fan invasions pose serious risks to players and personnel.
As for Mercado, his brief run across the outfield may live on in viral fame — but it’ll likely cost him far more than just a stadium ban.
