Ballhawk Zack Hample catches A-Rod's 3,000th hit and plans on keeping it

Alex Rodriguez’s historic 3,000th hit ended up in the hands of a famous home-run ballhawk, and some Yankees fans aren't very happy about it.

Zack Hample, who boasts that he has caught over 8,000 major-league baseballs, came away with Rodriguez’s milestone first-inning home run ball to right field in section 103 — just below where the Bleacher Creatures sit. The 37-year-old New Yorker says he became a Yankees season-ticket holder last year and picked the right field area because it’s a "good spot."

Here's A-Rod's 3,000th hit/ball. Told the @Yankees I'm keeping it. Got it authenticated by @MLB. This is un-REAL. pic.twitter.com/qEo2qX9Iru

— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) June 20, 2015

As he was being escorted by security to a private area for negotiation, Hample didn’t sound like a guy who was going to make it easy for the Yankees.

“My intention all along, imagining this scenario as a one-in-a-million, was not to give it back,” Hample said. “Just because – the guy who got Jeter’s 3,000th hit, a lot of people called him an idiot. A lot of people said that he was a wonderful person and extremely generous, and I really think whatever you want to do with it is your choice. I think that someone like Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, who’s made half-a-billion dollars in their career, doesn’t really need a favor from a normal civilian, a fan like me.

“I don’t know right now if I’m gonna sell it,” Hample continued. “Depending on what the Yankees could offer, I would consider giving it back. I don’t plan to give it back for a chance to meet him and four autographed bats, because I don’t collect bats. I collect baseballs. Just having this ball is so meaningful to me, and I can’t believe that I got it.”

Hample’s website says he’s on a mission to snag baseballs for a non-profit charity called Pitch In For Baseball, which provides baseball equipment to underprivileged kids around the world. However, some of the Bleacher Creatures regulars don’t see Hample in the same light.

“That guy’s a d-bag!” said Bald Vinny, leader of the Creatures. “That guy sucks. He pushes little kids out of the way. He is the worst ever. That guy is the worst ever. There is literally – nobody worse could’ve gotten that home run ball than that f---ing guy. He’s a d-bag.

“Tell him I said, ‘F--k off,’” he added. “That guy sucks.”

On Thursday, Hample was asked on Twitter if he’d give Rodriguez the ball back if he caught a home run for Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit. Hample replied, “I’ll give him the finger and a dummy ball. That man deserves favors from no one, least of all a fan.”

Tonight Twitter is blowing up with mostly criticisms of the notorious ball hog.

Please god tell me Zach Hample didn’t catch the A-Rod homer. Please

— Rob Iracane (@iracane) June 20, 2015

No one likes you, @zack_hample because no one likes a grown man who brings his glove to MLB games. https://t.co/BJyOZMZOoV

— Neil Keefe (@NeilKeefe) June 20, 2015

Tigers catcher James McCann destroys bird with foul ball (VIDEO)

It was 14 years ago that Randy Johnson famously, but accidentally, obliterated a bird with one of his 99 mph fastballs during an MLB spring training game.

On Friday, Detroit Tigers rookie catcher James McCann did the same with a swing of the bat. 

During the Tigers-Braves exhibition game yesterday, McCann launched a ball backwards over the backstop but, unfortunately, for the bird resting atop the netting, it was in the direct line of fire.

And POOF!

That's a fowl ball on your scorecards.

Yankees are considering a talk with Max Scherzer: Report

After showing little interest in any high-priced player this offseason, the Yankees sound like they may be reconsidering their reported plan to avoid spending a lot of money and go after one of baseball's top free-agents — namely right-hander Max Scherzer.

The Tigers' workhorse is arguably the top starter on the market this year, on a list which also includes Jon Lester and James Shields. And he would also garner the most expensive contract.

According to CBS Sports, it shouldn't come as a surprise if the Yankees and Scherzer start talking:

The Yankees and Scherzer's agent, Scott Boras, are said to have had a brief contact sometime since returning from the GM meetings, and word is the Yankees may "revisit" their inclination not to make any big expenditures this winter.

The early word was that they were going to avoid the biggest free agents, and that seems to hold true, with the possible exception of Scherzer. Yankees people have long admired Lester, the other big-time free agent pitcher in his prime, but it seems Scherzer is the one they are seriously considering.

During the GM meetings in Phoenix last Wednesday, Boras was asked what he thought of the Yankees’ reported disinterest in signing a mega-name this offseason.

Boras wasn't convinced.

"The one thing I know about the Yankees is that they’ve been out of the playoffs for two years," Boras said.. "You have to go back to 1992 or 1993 (the last time that happened). The Steinbrenner history has always been, ‘We’re going to win.’ It serves their brand. It serves their model to do anything they can to win. I’m not here to make individual decisions for them but I just know, I think that brand dynamic and trying to win every year has gone pretty well for them the last time I looked."

Boras also championed his client, a 2013 Cy Young winner and ace of just about any rotation he joins.

"Over the last three years he's led Major League Baseball in strikeouts and wins," Boras said. "He has a resume that's off the charts."

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but with their tender-armed pitching roster, it seems the Yankees might have no other choice than making a grandiose move for a proven arm.

Dad catches foul ball with one hand, kid in the other (VIDEO)

This dad makes an impressive one-handed grab on a foul ball for a nice souvenir while holding his child during the third inning of the Twins-Tigers game Saturday.

The sure-handed fan catches Kurt Suzuki's foul ball off of Max Scherzer like a pro and the kid doesn't even flinch.

Hope mom doesn't see this. Not exactly the best Mother's Day gift for her.