If you’ve followed baseball media over the last few years, you know Jomboy Media has been one of the biggest glow-up stories on the scene.
What started as a couple of diehard Yankee fans—Jimmy O’Brien and Jake Storiale—talking ball in a basement back in 2017 has evolved into a full-blown, fan-powered empire. From witty breakdowns to unfiltered podcasts, Jomboy carved a unique lane in sports content.
Major League Baseball even bought in—literally—with an ownership stake. But this week, the baseball world hit pause on the praise.
The Dan Rourke Situation: A Viral Moment Gone Way Too Far
Everything blew up Wednesday night during the Yankees vs. Blue Jays game. Dan Rourke, a producer for Jomboy Media (though technically not on an official Jomboy livestream), was hosting his independent “Yankees Avenue” stream when he crossed a line—a big one.
As Toronto’s George Springer crossed the plate, Rourke launched into a vulgar tirade, saying: “(Expletive) you, Springer, kill yourself. Piece of (expletive).”
The outburst was clipped, shared, and swiftly condemned across baseball Twitter. And while the stream wasn’t an official Jomboy Media product, Rourke is on the Jomboy payroll. Suddenly, the feel-good media brand found itself in the kind of PR storm it had never really faced before.
O’Brien Responds—But Critics Aren’t Sold
To his credit, Jimmy O’Brien didn’t go silent. He addressed it on air later in the week, calling the comments “terrible” and “inexcusable,” while also explaining that Rourke’s gaming background may have shaped his reckless livestreaming habits.
“He grew up in gaming culture… you talk (expletive) during livestreams,” O’Brien said. “That’s no excuse to tell a player to go kill yourself. Joking, not joking—you can’t say that.” He also acknowledged that MLB could intervene. “The league might call us and say, ‘Hey, he’s not allowed here.’”
That might be more than speculation. With MLB now tied to Jomboy Media as a stakeholder, the league’s silence—so far—has felt deafening. Whether they issue a ban, suspend press credentials, or take a behind-the-scenes route remains to be seen. But make no mistake: everyone is watching.
What’s Next for Jomboy?
Rourke issued an apology on Friday’s livestream, but as of now, there’s no indication of internal discipline coming from Jomboy Media. That decision alone has stirred even more backlash, with some fans and media figures calling the response tone-deaf.
The reality is this: Jomboy Media isn’t just a scrappy indie outlet anymore. With MLB as a partner and millions of followers across platforms, there’s more responsibility now. What used to be “just fans talking” is now a company with real reach—and real consequences.
Whether Rourke keeps his job, or whether MLB steps in with a statement or a sanction, one thing’s for sure—this week was a defining moment for Jomboy Media.
