Wiley Ballard is a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Braves who recently made headlines following his bold on-air interaction moment during a recent game, find out more below about his bio, age and family
The reporter caught the attention of viewers as he went away from standard sideline duties to flirt with a fan during a live broadcast.
Who is Atlanta Braves sideline reporter Wiley Ballard, bio, age, family, wife, high school, college and Instagram
The interaction sparked all kinds of reactions as some netizens found it entertaining, while others questioned his professionalism.
Wiley Ballard pulls a woman’s number on-air
The incident took place on Monday night’s matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays where the Braves won 8-4. Amidst the game, Ballard was on a segment of “The Field Report” when he approached two women. The two women, named Lauren and Kayla, were seated at the Truist Park rooftop lounge. Wiley started off with the classic line, “You come here often?”, and then exchanged a few light-hearted words before abruptly turning towards the camera and stating that he was going to “go to work up here.”
While still live on camera, Ballard pulled out his phone and said to Lauren, “They want me to get your number”, referring to the announcers who went on about getting the women’s numbers.
Wiley Ballard bio and age
Atlanta native Wiley Ballard who went to The Westminster Schools, is a prominent American sports broadcaster who is currently serving as a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Braves. Although his exact age isn’t publicly confirmed, he is likely around his early 30s and is currently single and unmarried. Ballard has often shown an energetic approach and confident personality, making him a familiar face in the Braves’ coverage.
Wiley, BSBA ’17, who started as a student broadcaster with the Georgia Tech baseball team, has been named the 2024 Georgia Sportscaster of the Year.
Ballard’s broadcasting journey began with the Atlanta Thrashers NHL team after he and his younger brother discovered hockey through the Thrashers’ youth programs, and Ballard became captivated by play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera.
He was the first in his family to attend the Institute and after being accepted at Tech, Ballard studied finance while maximizing every broadcasting opportunity.
“We’ve got very deep roots with Georgia Tech,” Ballard had previously said. “My dad grew up going to the games when he was seven or eight years old. My grandfather moved to the area in the 1920s and started the tradition.”
His family had season tickets to Tech basketball when he was growing up.
Profession and career
Over the years, Wiley Ballard has built a steady career in sports journalism, working in both studio and field roles. He often mixes traditional reporting with a casual and accessible tone to resonate with fans. Ballard’s recent latest antics, like riding the hot-dog seesaw just the night after the number-pulling incident, have further amplified his visibility on the screen.
Reactions from fellow female journalists
As the incident went viral, it quickly sparked all kinds of reactions, splitting opinions. Most notably, several female journalists have publicly criticized Wiley Ballard for being inappropriate.
Newsday writer Laura Albanese wrote:
If I had ever done anything close to this, my career would be over. This is…flabbergasting.”
CBS Sports’ MLB editor Kate Feldman also wrote:
This is one of the most insanely inappropriate things I’ve ever seen. Like I legitimately cannot believe it’s real.”
Mets beat reporter Abbey Mastracco stated;
“‘Setting the standard.’ It’s an incredibly low, unprofessional standard to set,”