As a youth baseball coach, one of many hardest classes to show younger baseball gamers is that until time has been known as, the ball is all the time stay.
Fortunately I now have one thing to indicate the workforce subsequent observe to instill that lesson much more, because of Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Braves had been trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 within the backside of the fifth inning on Monday evening, when Acuña led off the inning by drawing a four-pitch stroll. The subsequent batter, first baseman Matt Olson, walked as effectively, sending Acuña to second.
However the outfielder was not content material stopping there.
Watch this heads-up play from Acuña as he takes the additional base, going from first-to-third on a stroll:
Acuña seen that third baseman Max Muncy had his again turned to him, and was not in a rush to cowl third base. So the outfielder rounded second and made a useless dash to 3rd. By the point the Dodgers, and Muncy, reacted it was too late, and the Braves had runners on the corners with no person out.
The heady play ended up stealing the Braves a run. The subsequent batter hit a floor ball to quick, and whereas the Dodgers had been capable of drive Olson out at second, Acuña, now beginning the play on third as an alternative of second, was capable of rating on the fielder’s selection. The subsequent two batters lined out and grounded out, respectively, that means the Braves might need been held scoreless within the inning, had Acuña not made this heads-up play.
Atlanta went on to lose 8-6, but when nothing else, I’ve a speaking level for observe Wednesday evening.
