“He didn’t run, it’s not going to be acceptable here” - When Brian Snitker pulled Ronald Acuna Jr. for his wrong judgment for thinking he hit a homer

During the 2019 season, Ronald Acuna Jr. continued to make major strides in the big leagues. He was coming into his second season in the MLB, but there were some growing pains.

While tearing the cover off the baseball, he made some mental mistakes that have hurt other rookies. From losing his focus at times to not hustling, however, he was becoming a star in the making.

After hitting moonshot after moonshot, Acuna Jr. mistook one that landed short of clearing the fence late into the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He did not run it out and was later pulled from the game by an unhappy Brian Snitker, via ESPN.

"He didn't run. You've got to run. It's not going to be acceptable here. As a teammate, you're responsible for 24 other guys, and that name on the front is a lot more important than that name on the back of that jersey," Snitker said.

Snitker was critical of Acuna Jr. not hustling, and he was going to make an example out of him. Not many managers would have the guts to pull their young star for something like this, but Snitker wanted the young slugger to learn.

Ronald Acuna Jr. accepted his punishment by Brian Snitker for not hustling

Atlanta Braves - Brian Snitker and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Photo via IMAGN)

Some players would have handled this situation differently, but Ronald Acuna Jr. knew he had made a mistake. He was not upset by Brian Snitker's decision to pull him for his mistake.

"It's one of those things where I [wasn't] thinking and that's the reaction I took. [Snitker] felt that was the decision he had to make, and I respect that decision," Acuna Jr. said.

The young slugger was not going to let that blunder impact his season. It was a learning experience, and he was ready to help his club navigate the NL East.

"I've always tried to play baseball hard. It's just one of those things that happen. I'll continue to play hard" Acuna Jr. said.

He was quickly back in the lineup, where he continued to put his barrel on the baseball. He finished the 2019 season hitting .280/.365/.518 with a career-high 41 home runs and 101 runs batted in.

The Braves would make the postseason later that year, but had some trouble. They lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS, ending their season.