It’s a coaching tactic used in Little League and high school baseball all the time, but you don’t often see it with a National League MVP candidate like the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. But Braves manager Brian Snitker benched Acuna in the middle of Sunday’s game because his star didn’t run out a couple of balls that cost Atlanta.
The substitution sent momentary shock waves through the baseball (and fantasy baseball) world because it seemed a red flag that Acuna was hurt. But he wasn’t; Snitker just wanted to make a point. Acuna said after the game that he accepted the discipline and would learn his lesson.
And what’s even better for Atlanta, they came back to beat the Dodgers and take a series from the NL’s best team and a possible playoff opponent.
Ronald Acuña Jr. was pulled by Braves manager Brian Snitker seemingly for not hustling out of the box in his last AB
(via @FOXSportsBraves)pic.twitter.com/PDJjogFQIY
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) August 18, 2019
The play in question
After the Dodgers had taken a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on Cody Bellinger’s 42nd home run, Acuna led off the bottom of the inning with a long drive to right field.
But as Acuna stopped in the opposite batter’s box to admire his shot, the ball bounced off the wall instead of leaving the yard. Acuna only made it to first base with a long single.
Snitker didn’t immediately pull his star second-year player, but by the fourth inning, he was out. Snitker later said he was giving replacement Adam Duvall time to warm up before going in the game.
Ronald Acuña Jr. has been taken out of the biggest game yet for watching a potential HR turned single. This will be a GOOD LESSON for a young player with TONS of talent. Snitker Cares about Ñ, THE TEAM & sends a message to everyone about playing the game the right way. #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/ysPYnUczfE
— Paul Byrd (@PaulByrd36) August 18, 2019
The reaction
Snitker said after the game the normal tropes about lack of hustle. Acuna needed to realize the game wasn’t bigger than him, the name of the front of the jersey was more important, culture of accountability, etc.
Of course, that doesn’t make him wrong. Acuna said so himself. The 21-year-old said he understood his manager’s decision and would improve on that part of his already brilliant game.
“There’s no excuse for it. I just kind of took it and said ‘Of course.’ He’s the manager, I’m the player and I’ll respect his decisions.”
— Ronald Acuña Jr. on being pulled from the game in the fourth inning. pic.twitter.com/dR8Y9RDdMK
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) August 18, 2019
