MAY 9: Fortunately, it seems Acuna avoided any major injury. The Braves announced last night he was day-to-day with a left pinky contusion and that X-rays had come back negative. After the game, manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including Mark Bowman of MLB.com) the team “dodged a bullet” and said Acuna could be back in the starting lineup as soon as this evening if he feels fine during pregame batting practice.
8:59PM: Ronald Acuna Jr. was removed from tonight’s game in the seventh inning after the Braves star was hit in the left hand by a pitch. Phillies reliever Sam Coonrod hit Acuna with a 97.8mph sinker, and Acuna almost immediately left the field (in visible pain) after a visit from the trainer.
More will be known post-game, though the worst-case scenario would be a serious hand injury that would sideline Acuna for several weeks or months. Such a loss would be a potential disaster for an Atlanta lineup that has been inconsistent despite Acuna’s MVP-level performance thus far in the season.
Through 137 plate appearances, Acuna is hitting .313/.409/.652 with 10 home runs. Entering Saturday’s action, Acuna was leading the NL in both slugging percentage and OPS, and was leading the majors in both homers and runs scored (29). With Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, Dansby Swanson, and (the currently injured) Travis d’Arnaud all off to slow starts in 2021, it isn’t a huge exaggeration to say that Acuna has carried the Braves’ offense.
This isn’t Acuna’s first injury scare of the season, as he suffered a mild abdominal strain that forced him out of a game back on April 18. That issue ultimately didn’t require a visit to the injured list, however, and Acuna was back in action by April 23. It should be noted that Acuna has hit only .200/.328/.400 in the first 61 PA since that abdominal injury, though some regression was probably inevitable after Acuna’s red-hot start.
Oh he, hit a homer off Coonrod the last time he faced him? Probably just a coincidence…
He swung into it
Look at the pitch chart Mark Bowman just posted to Twitter.
@smacky
It was pure intent. I’m 100% with you.
That’s true. He did half swing into it. This is more of a umpires allowing the Phillies to get strikes called 5 inches inside on him (well off the plate). Any good pitcher is gonna keep going in, and that’s what they did. It was a combo of bad umpiring and Ronnie check swinging at a bad pitch he likely felt he had to swing at because the umps kept calling them strikes
It’s not like Coonrod has been good until this season. His ERA was 10.00 last year. If you can’t control where the ball is going you can’t throw inside. It’s managers like Girardi, Mattingly, and Mathney that think hitting people is a strategic part of the game like it’s the 50’s.
Mattingly threw at Acuna every game 2 years ago when Acuna was ruining them.
100% agree….first one was pretty far inside, but Acuna swung his bat/hand into the ball….if he stands there the ball goes past him and nothing happens.
It was an inside pitch but acuna but his hand into the path of the pitch.
Former Brave Peter Moylan did say after the game that the hit by pitch was unintentional and the only way to get Acuna out is to pitch him inside. That being said it is really uncanny how frequently Acuna gets a HBP after crushing the pitcher that hits him. In addition to that I think everyone can admit that there have been several times that Acuna was definitely hit intentionally and it was only done because he was hitting so well. There are clearly at least some pitchers that just want to take him out of the lineup. Urena basically said as much on camera to the media before he hit him with the first pitch of one game. Then he did it again later. The Marlins staff has probably intentionally hit Acuna at least 5 times. I can’t say that’s exactly what happened this time but when a superstar clearly gets intentionally hit so many times by pitchers he has punished, you have to question any time a pitcher he just punished hits him again. It has to be at least curious to some people that it only seems to happen when he is facing a team or pitcher that he has homered off of very recently. If it were random wouldn’t the pitchers that routinely get him out be hitting him too? his HBP’s frequently seem to come in bunches and it’s usually in a single series against one team he has been punishing. If the argument is that he should be pitched inside then why is it that the teams he don’t crush end up getting him out while not hitting him with pitches? If pitching Acuna that far inside is the way to get Acuna out then why do all the teams that do it get crushed by him? I am actually re-watching the HBP on DVR now and I have to say that the pitch before it makes it seem intentional. The pitch that he may have swung into it a little bit but it was still at least a foot inside. The pitch before that was over 2 feet inside. If you are repeatedly throwing pitches a 1 or 2 feet inside you are not trying to get a hitter out. There is absolutely no way the 2 foot inside pitch right before that could have gotten him out. It seems like Coonrod was trying to hit him and didn’t so then he tried to do it again in a slightly less egregious way and it worked out. If you miss by 2 feet inside you don’t immediately go right back far inside unless you were unsatisfied with your last pitch not effectively hitting the batter. It seems like Coonrod wanted to hit Acuna and failed so then he tried again on the very next pitch and succeeded. If you only look at the 1 pitch that hit him, you are taking it out of context and not looking at the at bat. Keep in mind, this was a 2 run game with a runner on 1st. The last thing they wanted was for Acuna to hit a game tying 2-run home run. There are plenty of pitchers and managers that still use that old Nolan Ryan way of thinking: “You’re gonna walk him anyway. You might as well hit him and make him feel it.” There is no way the Phillies were actually going to let Acuna hit there. They knew they weren’t getting him out.
This was clearly not intentional. It’s almost as if Acuna Jr. is a really good hitter who needs to be pitched inside. Geez. Some people love to stir the pot for no reason. Anyway, hope it’s not too bad.
Not sure why Snitker didn’t pinch hit Mathis for Contreras with bases loaded and 1 out in the tenth. Mathis has laid down a bunt before… smh.
This loss is on Snitker. Pinch hits Mathis a inning too late who ironically puts down a bunt in the 11th that would’ve won the game in the 10th. At the very least it takes Contreras out of the game who continues on to commit a error in the 11th than the 12th.
WB and Pache are the future. You have to let them play. A winning team needs to have unproven prospects there.
I apologize to everyone who hasn’t muted me. Braves came back to win the game. I jumped the gun. Hopefully this is the start of a big winning streak.
I knew the Phillies pen was bad, but 3 blown saves in one game is historic.
LOL@FMfortheHOF. If posters are muting you for that than it wasn’t really important to have any communication with them anyway.
Anyone saying this was an intentional hit has an ax to grind. He had started his swing but probably didn’t realize in time that it was to far inside because it was a 98 mph fastball but if he doesn’t swing, he doesn’t even have to move to avoid it. There’s no villain here.
No need to apologize Crime Dog. I appreciate the acknowledgement though. This was probably the best win of the year for the Braves. Even one of the post game announcers said this was one of those games teams look back on and say, “That’s when we turned it around and started a streak that carried us to the division championship.”
As for people that say the HBP was definitely unintentional, I can’t honestly 100% agree or disagree. I will say this though. Look at the pitch right before that. It was over 2 feet inside and high. If by chance Acuna weren’t able to get out of the way a lot more people would be saying that pitch WAS intentional.. The pitch that hit him wasn’t quite as far inside but the fact that he threw it right after a pitch that definitely DID seem like he was intentionally trying to hit him makes it seem a lot more suspect. There was a 0% chance anyone would swing at that first inside pitch. It was over 2 feet inside. I do think that Acuna may have slightly started to swing on the next pitch that was “only” 1 foot or so inside but that does not constitute swinging into a pitch. If a batter swings into a pitch it is ruled a strike and not a HBP. No such call was made during this at bat and no one even suggested a call like that should be made. If a batter swings into a pitch it is ruled a strike. Acuna was awarded 1st base for a reason. He didn’t really swing into the pitch. Otherwise the Phillies would have challenged and there would be a bunch of social media uproar about another blown call by an umpire ruling a strike as a hit by pitch.
God on you for owning that. Thumbs up.
Good* Not sure why it won’t let me edit that
Pache is not showing me anything to believe he’s the future. Maybe a future Gorkys Hernandez or Cam Maybin at best.
Big fan of Pache however, if this continues for another week or 2 then you gotta feel I’m gonna get a shot no?
What loss? You mean the game that they won last night? If the loss would have been on Snitker does he get credit for the win?
Because Mathis can’t hit a lick
Maybe Harper gets another one in the chin
“Maybe Harper gets another one in the chin”
I hope not.
I hope not. I enjoy rivalries as much as the next baseball fan but not when they’re two teams sniping each other’s best players.
It wasn’t intentional. There doesn’t need to be a big fight started over this.
Harper didn’t do anything. He don’t deserve to get hit. I don’t condone hitting someone who didn’t do anything.
BRUTAL! Look, umps kept giving the Phillies the inside pitch tonight. Easy 5+ inches off the plate. Everyone pitches Acuna in anyways, but when a bad umpire gives you almost anything inside, any good staff would keep pitching in even further. Eventually one was gonna clip Acuna, what a shame! I know this sounds a bit out of left field, but I put this injury on the umps.
Time to call Kakes.
BJ Upton busy ?
Not the worst idea. Can’t see how you don’t break your hand or finger(s) on a 97 MPH fastball that hits them directly.
so…. is it broken ?
Let me call his doctor and ask.
Thanks, appreciate it. Let me know what you hear.
When will MLB and the umpires put a stop to this? How does Coonrad not get ejected? Surely a suspension is on the way. Good lord, I’m no expert but I’m sure losing one of your most exciting players to a (what looks like) a broken hand is not good for business.
I’m all for policing the game, but belt down. Should have been tossed after he barely got out of the first one.
Lol. WTH are you talking about? You have to pitch Acuna Jr. inside. Otherwise he crushes it. There was no intent. He even check swung on the pitch. Come on buddy.
Acuña hit a homer off Coonrad the last time they faced off. Coonrad barely misses Acuña then hits him in the hand. Do your research buddy.
Phillies are up 3-1. They don’t want to put baserunners on. Coonrad doesn’t need revenge on a home run. Everyone throws Acuna Jr. in because he crushes everything else. Do your research buddy. Stop letting fan bias impact baseball knowledge. No way that’s intentional. He almost swung at the pitch who hit him. It was an accident and I’m glad nothing is broken.
97mph smashed on the fingers holding a bat? Not optimistic about this, he was clearly in excruciating pain.
I didn’t watch the game, but it doesn’t look intentional at all. Don’t know what happened before, but this is a barely inside pitch
Acuna seems to get hit a tad too much for it not to be intentional.
The scouting report is to throw him in. That’s one of the only ways to get him out. He also almost swung at the pitch. Despite the justifiably salty Braves fans saying otherwise, there was absolutely no intent here. It was clearly just an inside fastball that caught his hand. Phillies don’t want baserunners in a 3-1 game.
X-rays negative
X-rays negative, didn’t break anything.
Please don’t use this as an excuse. Prayers to acuna but the Mets were always going to win division regardless..
Lol. Mets are in 2nd place, bud.
Do you think the Phillies will win??? I don’t…
Not necessarily, but the Mets haven’t shown me much yet either. I see no reason why the Phillies can’t finish ahead of them. I still have the Braves as the most likely to pull away though.
After watching last night. I see one reason why the Phillies can’t finish ahead of the Mets. Mets bullpen and night and day better.
That’s 100% true. Phillies bullpen is awful, but some key pieces still injured. I like the Phillies top 3 starters and their lineup over the Mets. Putside of that, Mets are better in every way.
Ik the m eat haven’t hit as good as the Phillies but id argue we have better hitters. I’d also easily take Degrom Thor stroman carrasco and stroman. Over the Phillies. Even if you tell me that carrasco and Thor are ? I’d still take Degrom stro Walker over Nola wheeler and Eflin. Bc I ithink Walker is better than Eflin and Degrom vs Nola isnt close.
Walker is not better than Eflin. deGrom is better than Nola and every pitcher on Earth. I’ll take Wheeler over Stro. So Phillies top 3 for me, but Mets don’t have the weak backend that the Phillies do. I can’t see how you see the Mets lineup as better than the Phillies.
I think Walker is better than Eflin…
It’s early but elfin have never been anything and
Walker2.38
Eflin 3.38
Eflin pitched against better teams in hitter-friendly Philly. Walker pitches in a pitcher’s haven. I’ll take Eflin and I think stats will back that at the end of the year, but if I’m wrong I’ll eat crow.
You’re a Phils fan who’s posts I actually enjoy reading. Always insightful and never a braggart. Though I have to disagree with you here. The Mets starting 3 atm I’ll take over the Phils any day. Wheeler is good, always has been but Stroman seems to be hitting his prime at the right time. Walker also remember has a huge pedigree as a top prospect and his velocity is through the roof. If anything I’d be worried about him getting injured. With Carrasco and Thor coming back at some point this season, barring health, that rotation has a chance to be frightening. The Mets bullpen despite its performance thus far still makes me nervous. The lineups are pretty close but the Phils obviously have the best player overall though I think the Mets lineup as a whole is a bit better.
1st*
Looking forward to revisiting all of MetsFan22’s comments in early October.
No reason to not constantly throw heat inside. This is going to continue across the league with more injuries sure to follow.
You have to pitch Acuna in and he dives over the plate a bit. Maybe he should look at those gloves Jeff Bagwell used back in the day? Bagwell would always get hit on the hand so he added a pad to his glove
They made that kind of stuff illegal way back in 2000.
Based on the replay, I was able to tell it wasn’t anything serious.
Regardless, this team is finished with or without Acuna.
There is nothing going right for this team in any facet of the game.
Acuna is the only one hitting and he has cooled off and is hitting at a spot that makes him not dangerous because no one can get on behind him.
**ahead of him
You were saying ?
Can people on my fantasy team not get hit/injured for one freakin day please
Acuna Mattata
Coonrod… Not surprised,the bum has absolutely zero control over his pitching.
Coonrad has no business being out there with a 3-1 lead with his “outstanding” talent! That right there is what egregious! And it’s fitting the Phillies lost. Karma is brutal! Hi rafi knew what he was doing putting coonrad out there and telling him to pitch inside knowing darn well what was going to happen!
As you saw throughout the game Coonrod is about as viable as anyone in that horrendous bullpen. Phillies blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th, a 4-3 lead in the 11th, and a 7-4 lead in the 12th. That is one bad bullpen. There was no intent by Girardi or Coonrod. I’m sorry, but there’s no conspiracy here. No way do the Phillies want to put a baserunner on in a 3-1 game. It was an inside fastball with the intent of getting Acuna to get out. He nearly swung at the pitch. I’m sorry he was got it, but it wasn’t on purpose.
Don’t give up on Jacob Webb, age 27, despite the throwing error in 12th last night. While he is not exactly a kid-he was drafted in 2014 by the Frank Wren crew-he was fantastic in 2019, posting a 4–0 record with a 1.39 ERA over 32.1 innings. Injury shortened that season. He also missed the 2015 minor league season with Tommy John surgery.
If he can stay healthy and get the experience at the major league level that he needs, mistakes like that throwing error will fade away and he could be a solid RH reliever this year.
To come from behind 3 times in a last AB inning and ultimately win in the 12th, makes last night’s game about as good a reg season game as I’ve seen the Braves play.
Contreras giveth and taketh away, huh? His error almost cost them the game. Then his bases clearing double set the stage for the win.
Braves can and should be patient with inexperience as long as the talent is there. Braves have at least 3 guys like that on the roster right now. I’m looking for good second half from them.
The luck of some teams.
The Braves are now 1-4 in extra inning games. They were due some luck.
Luck had nothing to do with it. They have a stacked lineup and the Phillies have a horrible bullpen. As soon as Neris came in, I knew Kung Fu Panda was going to tie it. It was obvious. The Phillies surprised me by blowing more leads in extras, but I knew the Braves would pull it out.
Newcomb had another sharp inning of relief for Gwinnett yesterday.
Whenever Camargo is sent back to Gwinnett, he lights it up. That’s happening again. He seems to be one of those guys who is too good for AAA but not good enough for the bigs. I wonder if Braves have done all they can do for him and if another team should have a shot at making a big leaguer out of him. Demeritte is showing the same pattern btw, but Camargo has more defensive value than Demeritte (OF) because Camargo can play all the IF positions.
Braves have another top notch catcher prospect, Langeliers (considered to be better defensively than Contreras). Well, Langeliers banged 2 HRs yesterday at AA Mississippi in his first year at that minor league level.
I know it had to be painful, but the only thing I could think of when I was watching Acuna scream in pain was the Parks and Rec episode where Tom hurts his finger on the bowling ball. If you don’t know the scene, look it up, it’s hilarious. Even funnier now that it’s known he isn’t hurt that bad.
Teams are intentionally pitching Acuna inside and he’s getting hit repeatedly because Brian Snitker isn’t protecting his players. If the Braves continue to allow this to happen Acuna will eventually get seriously injured. If and when it happens, I will be calling for Snitker’s head. Any manager who fails to protect his players should not be managing, period.
Crowd the plate and this will happen. Unintentional hit by pitch.