Monday’s matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was interrupted when multiple fans ran onto the field to have their moment of fame with Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña.
As the Braves took the field for the bottom of the seventh inning, one fan began to run towards Acuña and grab him, seemingly trying to hug him.
Security quickly came in to try and separate the fan and Acuña, but the fan wasn’t planning on going willingly. Things then got even weirder as a second fan came in to try and grab him as well, knocking Acuña to the ground in the process as security tried to keep the second fan away.
The first fan was escorted out, but the second fan was pretty much carried off the field by security. It was an extremely bizarre moment that had viewers at home extremely confused about what these fans were trying to accomplish here.
Wild scene at Coors Field.
Fans ran onto the field and tried to hug/tackle Ronald Acuña Jr.pic.twitter.com/YToqgLRGp4
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) August 29, 2023
Multiple fans just ran onto the field directly at Ronald Acuña Jr.
pic.twitter.com/ymOlgc4Bno — The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) August 29, 2023
Two fans just tried to _____ Ronald Acuna Jr.
A. Attack
B. Hug
C. Wrestle
D. Other pic.twitter.com/x6ZSWHifx4— MyBookie – Bet With The Best (@MyBookie) August 29, 2023
We have certainly seen fans storm the field before, but they are typically dealt with in a far quicker and more effective way to where they usually don’t get to interact with the players on the field.
Luckily Acuña was not harmed during this incident, but it obviously could have had terrible consequences if these fans indeed had bad intentions towards the Braves star.
Bally Sports South announcers Brandon Gaudin and Peter Moylan, the voices of the Atlanta Braves, spoke about the incident shortly after it happened, detailing that there was actually a third fan who also got onto the field, but was dealt with by security before reaching Acuña. They also spoke about just how dangerous of a situation this could have been.
“What in the world? That is what needs to be asked. We’re talking about one of the best players in Major League Baseball that was contacted by a fan in the middle of a game,” said Moylan.”
“Well, it is scary enough when one fan gets onto the field and goes after a player. But two and potentially three that time. That really becomes a scary situation,” said Gaudin. “I’m sure that is one where Coors Field personnel will look at and figure out how in the world that happened.”
(Part 2/3) pic.twitter.com/gmb1zvTZfm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 29, 2023
Braves manager Brian Snitker spoke about the situation after the game, condemning the fans and adding that he is just glad that Acuña is okay.
“You don’t want to see that happen,” said Snitker. “You don’t know what they will do when they get out there. It’s a scary situation.”
"You don't want to see that happen, I know that. You don't know what they will do when they get out there. It's a scary situation."
Brian Snitker on tonight's incident with Ronald Acuña Jr. pic.twitter.com/4j6tBjS420
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) August 29, 2023
Somehow this strange interaction didn’t even seem to phase Acuña, as he would go on to get two more hits in what was a four-hit game for him.