Miami Marlins rookie Ronny Simon left the field in tears on Tuesday night after committing three errors in just three innings, contributing to the San Diego Padres’ rally to win the game 8-6.
Simon, who was replaced in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Padres tied the game 6-6, made his way to the dugout with tears in his eyes before heading to the clubhouse. He did not return for the remainder of the game, marking a significant moment in the Marlins’ season.
Manager Clayton McCullough explained the decision to pull Simon, stating: ‘Things just started to snowball a little bit and, you know, compound effect. It was tough. And just thought, for us and him, just in that moment, that making the change there was prudent just with how things had transpired.’ The errors began in the second inning when Simon dove for Tyler Wade’s grounder, but the ball deflected off his glove for an RBI single. He then put catcher Agustin Ramirez off home plate, allowing another run to score.
Simon continued to struggle with errors through the game, making a fielding error and a throwing error in the fourth inning. He also had a missed ground ball in the third, although the official scorer changed the call to a single by Xander Bogaerts. This series of mistakes ultimately led to the Padres’ comeback win, which was only the second time in franchise history they have managed to turn around a six-run deficit.
Fellow player Fernando Tatis Jr. offered support, saying: ‘It happens, it’s baseball. Everybody that has won a Gold Glove or a Platinum Glove has had one of those nights. I definitely know he’s a great player – he’s won MVP from the Winter League over there in the Dominican, and I’ve seen him play really good baseball and I have no doubt that he’s going to be a great baseball player.’ His comments reflect the understanding that even the best players face setbacks and that Simon’s performance is a temporary setback rather than a reflection of his potential.
The loss for the Marlins adds to the challenges of the season, highlighting the importance of handling adversity in the face of such setbacks. As the season progresses, the team will need to find ways to support players like Simon and maintain composure under pressure, which is crucial for their competitiveness in the league.