In the seventh inning at Coors Field, a fan rushes toward Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) while the grounds crew apprehends another individual. Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves player Ronald Acuna Jr. had an unexpected encounter with two fans while he was playing right field during a game at Coors Field. This event knocked down the star player.
Security Response and Acuna’s Reaction
In the seventh inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies, one person ran onto the field to take a selfie with Acuna. This fan put his arm around Acuna before security rushed over.
While security was trying to remove the first fan, another person also ran onto the field and went towards Acuna. It looked like this person made contact with Acuna, causing him to fall to the ground.
Acuna sat on the grass while security handled the situation. He got up by himself. At the time of the incident, Atlanta had just scored four runs, taking a 9-4 lead.
Fortunately, Acuna didn’t seem to be hurt by what happened. He even smiled and gave a thumbs-up after the incident.
Acuna shared, “I was a bit scared at first. I think the fans wanted pictures. I couldn’t say anything because security was already there, but they managed to handle it. We’re all okay, and I hope they’re okay too.”
Managers’ Disappointment with Fan Behavior
Atlanta’s manager, Brian Snitker, was disappointed with the fans’ actions. “You don’t want to see that happen,” he said. “It’s a scary situation when fans run onto the field.”
Colorado’s manager, Bud Black, agreed, saying, “It’s disappointing, especially in our ballpark and our town. It bothers me when it happens in sports.”
When asked about the incident during his postgame interview, Snitker explained he didn’t see it live because he was in the restroom. When asked if he’d seen similar incidents before, he said, “Yeah, quite a few times.”
Kevin Pillar’s Perspective on Fan Intentions
Kevin Pillar, who was playing left field for the Braves that day, was close to the incident. He believed the fans didn’t have harmful intentions. “We have rules and regulations to ensure our safety on the field, and thankfully, they weren’t there to cause harm,” he said.
Acuna’s Remarkable Performance
Acuna is a strong contender for the National League MVP award this season. Before this game, he was batting .330 with 28 home runs and 74 RBIs. In this game, he hit his 29th home run of the season and had an excellent performance, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and a walk.
Manager Snitker praised Acuna, saying, “He is a special player, a gifted young baseball player. Anything he does in this game doesn’t surprise me. He’s that talented.”
Source: ESPN
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