MLB players aren’t the only ones who need to be on high alert to protect sensitive body parts.
During the fifth inning of Wednesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit a foul ball into his team’s dugout. Unfortunately, the ball struck Braves manager Brian Snitker in a highly unfortunate area.
Initially, Braves announcer Brandon Gaudin commented that the ball “bounced right into his belly.” However, upon reviewing the replay, Gaudin realized the ball hit Snitker below the belt.
“Oh no. Not on the belly,” Gaudin said after seeing the replay. “Nevermind. That’s a different kind of belly. … Does a manager wear a cup?”
Here’s a look at the painful moment, courtesy of Awful Announcing:
Despite the unexpected hit, Snitker seemed to handle the situation well. He laughed off the incident without showing much discomfort, demonstrating his resilience.
Even Albies appeared to look at his manager with a mix of concern and amusement, leading commentator C.J. Nitkowski to joke that Albies must be thinking he didn’t hit it hard enough.
If Snitker was in more pain than he let on, his team quickly gave him something to smile about. The Braves scored two more runs that inning when Austin Riley drove in Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna with a double, providing a boost to their lead.
The Braves went on to secure a 3-1 victory at Truist Park, bolstered by a strong performance from starting pitcher Chris Sale. Sale delivered six impressive innings, striking out nine and continuing his resurgent season.
The 35-year-old southpaw improved to an 11-3 record with a 2.71 ERA, further cementing his status as a key player for the Braves.
In the end, what could have been a moment of concern for the Braves turned into a lighthearted incident, showing the team’s ability to maintain their composure and sense of humor even in unexpected situations.
Snitker’s good-natured reaction and the team’s subsequent success on the field highlight the camaraderie and resilience within the Braves organization.
