DENVER – There was a scary and somewhat unprecedented situation as three fans entered the field and two of them made contact with Ronald Acuña Jr. – at separate times - before the bottom of the seventh inning in the Braves’ win over the Rockies Monday night at Coors Field.
“I was a little scared at first, but I think the fans were out there and asking for a picture,” Acuña said through interpreter Franco García. “Security was able to get there, and so I think everything’s OK, everyone’s OK.”
Fellow outfielder Kevin Pillar saw a few fans on the field before the inning. Then he saw one of them knock down Acuña.
“And then when Ronnie fell down, your mindset changes a little bit,” Pillar said. “You go over there and you don’t think about any repercussions. You just want to get him out of there safely.”
At first, one fan ran up to Acuña and appeared to pull out his phone when he approached Acuña, as if to attempt to take a selfie. That’s when two security guards sprinted toward the scene and apprehended that fan, who had his arms wrapped around Acuña. A third security guard ran over.
Then a second fan bolted into the picture and collided with the group, which knocked over Acuña. The star outfielder sat on the ground for a few moments as security contained the two fans.
This was a shocking sight.
“I don’t think they had any ill intentions. I think that was pretty evident early on,” Pillar said. “Still, I mean, we have these rules and regulations in place. We’re supposed to feel safe on the field. Thankfully, they weren’t there to do any harm.”
“You just never know during those situations what people’s intentions are. Luckily, they were just extreme fans of Ronnie and wanted to get a picture or put their hands on him. But in no way is it appropriate for people to leave the stands, even more to put their hands on someone else. You don’t ever really expect it.”
Acuña’s teammates, and even manager Brian Snitker, went out to visit him in right field. Meanwhile, the second fan – the one who rammed into the group – was much crazier than the first. As security guards tried to take him away, he appeared to be jumping and shouting. It took more security to restrain him.
Finally, the situation had been handled and the game resumed.
“You don’t want to see that happen, I know that, because you don’t know what those people, what they can do when they come out there,” Snitker said. “So it’s a scary situation.”
After the Braves beat the Rockies, 14-4, this seemed to be the consensus in the clubhouse: The fans didn’t have malicious intent. They were simply looking for pictures. Still, their actions were unacceptable and could’ve been dangerous.
This was something no one ever wants to see.
Then again, no one can really recall seeing something like it.
“Typically, they’re out there to kind of parade around,” Pillar said. “They may go close to players and run around them. I’ve never seen anyone go out there with the intention to get a photo or hug a player or touch a player. Thankfully, they weren’t out there to do harm to him. They were just really big fans of him. But in no way is that appropriate.”
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