Both the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead their respective divisions – National League East and West, respectively. Last night’s encounter turned quite heated when the Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna couldn’t control the swing of his bat.
During Monday’s match, tensions flared between Dodgers catcher Will Smith and Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna. The game, which was already intense due to the competition between these two leading division teams, witnessed the Dodgers mounting a comeback from a four-run disadvantage and ultimately securing an 8-6 victory.
What led to the heated on-field clash between Marcell Ozuna and Will Smith?
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In the fourth inning of the game, Marcell Ozuna, who recently completed ten years in the MLB, was at bat against Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone. Ozuna made contact with the ball, resulting in a lazy fly ball to left field. However, during his follow-through, Ozuna unintentionally struck Smith on the head with an exaggerated swing. Ozuna promptly checked on Smith before running to first base.
Bullpens empty after Marcell Ozuna's backswing strikes Will Smith
"That's like the fifth time you've done it" pic.twitter.com/kt7hq31Sji
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 23, 2023
Catcher Will Smith wasn’t happy and gave Ozuna a mouthful, saying “you’ve got to clean it up.” The conversation become quite heated and even though Ozuna seemed apologetic, the bullpens cleared with nothing boiling over and the heated conversation stayed at that.
After the game, Smith said, “I was just mad. He hit me in the head with his bat pretty hard. It’s not the first time he’s done it to me. He’s done it to other catchers around the league. I just felt like there comes a point where I need to say something there. In the moment, it kind of got a little heated. It’s something he’s not doing on purpose. But you do it enough times you’d think he’d fix it.”
Several fans stood in support of Will Smith
While most fans blamed Ozuna since this wasn’t the first time he hit the catcher with his heavy backswing, a few also believed that it was the catcher’s job to adjust to the backswing.
As a result, this is how fans reacted:
Unacceptable. Period. Happens again dude needs a suspension.
— E-6 (@akaBobKinjer) May 23, 2023
I agree, batters should be able to not let go of the bat to the point it hits the catcher. Seen it more than a few times already this year.
— Eddie (@vargaser) May 23, 2023
In my experience (43 seasons umpiring all levels of amateur and pro baseball,) it's on the catcher, not the batter, to avoid getting hit by a bat on the backswing. If the batter is in the box he's legally allowed to swing away; it's the catcher who must adjust for his own safety.
— Perry Barber (@perrybarber) May 23, 2023
If they're concerned about player safety and willing to make moves like changing the size of the bases why not have something governing this?
Ozuna has a long swing that clips catchers frequently. That's not the catcher's fault.
— Just Tim (@InfernoBarge) May 23, 2023
Ozuna and Will Smith beefing pic.twitter.com/U5lU3ipLBX
— Kyle (@bagelofyore) May 23, 2023
This would piss me off too. Will Smith can't just move back this almost hit the ump. Ozuna needs to adjust plain and simple
— Mike (@MjKissane) May 23, 2023
The dodgers are the softest team in baseball and it’s not close.
— Lars Nootbaar’s Pepper Grinder (@_ethanlowrey_) May 23, 2023
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Bullpens stand around and look at each other
— Steve McCollum (@Steve2McCollum) May 23, 2023
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Do you think Ozuna was in the wrong, or should Will Smith have adjusted according to Ozuna’s swing? Fans are divided, but what do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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