Jackson Hayes’ negative experience that turned him into a Dodgers fan

A good subset Los Angeles Lakers the fans are also fans of the recently crowned World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Jackson Hayes is certainly one of them. He rocked a Dodgers jersey after playing a huge role in the Lakers’ 130-120 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday night, clearly beaming with pride with the city of LA celebrating.

However, Hayes was not a Dodgers fan at first. He was born in Oklahoma and his family moved to Loveland, Ohio when he was just three years old. Because of proximity, there was always one MLB team that Hayes would root for. Loveland was only about 20 miles away from the home of the Cincinnati Reds, Great American Ballpark, and Hayes was definitely a Reds fan in his younger days.

But now, Hayes is a true Dodgers fan, though you’d think he’d feel at least a little conflicted when the Reds were eliminated in the NL Wild Card round in 2025. The Lakers center shared the story of why he turned to the Reds, as he was repeatedly called upon to throw the first pitch only to have his opportunities taken away.

“I used to be a Reds fan. But then I got fired a few times when I threw out the first pitch, so now I’m a Dodgers fan,” Hayes said in his postgame presser two days ago, via Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation .

As much as Hayes felt aggrieved to miss the opportunity to throw the first pitch for the team he grew up rooting for in the MLB, he has to love life as a Dodgers fan anyway.

Lakers center Jackson Hayes’ checkered past is being mentioned by fans

Hayes may be upset that he wasn’t given a chance to make the first pitch for the Reds. But the Reds might just be wary of his off-field history. The The Lakers center was charged with 12 fouls in 2021 after he got into a domestic dispute with his then-girlfriend. He ended up getting three years of probation and had to take domestic violence classes.

Fans on social media then took to the Reds’ decision not to allow Hayes to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Great American Ballpark.

“Beats women, checks out,” Ks user @cmielionaire wrote.

“Well done to the Reds for canceling this woman who beat the pos,” @jordandwolfe10 he added.

“They called him big when he threw out the first pitch after beating his girlfriend,” @JDAlekander3 further.