MIAMI — Braves manager Brian Snitker was ejected for objecting to the umpires’ decision to warn both benches after Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit by a pitch during Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Marlins at loanDepot park.
The benches calmly cleared when Acuña objected to his left arm guard being hit by Ryan Gusto’s 93.3 mph sinker in the third inning. The plunking occurred one pitch after Matt Olson hit a two-run homer that hit the second-level facade beyond the center-field wall.
Acuña took a couple steps toward the mound before being corralled toward first base. The benches and bullpens emptied, but there weren’t any physical confrontations.
Once both teams returned to their respective benches, the umpires signaled that both teams had received a warning for the remainder of the game. Snitker yelled his disapproval and was ejected before he took more than just a few steps on the field. This was his 22nd career ejection and second of this season.
The Marlins have hit Acuña with a pitch nine times during his career. No other team has plunked him more than five times. But this was just the third time the 2023 National League MVP has been plunked by Miami since the start of the 2022 season.
