Let’s talk about the dark side of baseball for a second: the side that rips a player’s heart out in front of 40,000 fans and doesn’t even buy him dinner afterward. Most of the sport is packed with highlight reels and action plays, but then there’s the emotional side, filled with heartbreak and, in some cases, humiliation.
The second side is what happened to Ronny Simon, the Miami Marlins‘ young second baseman, during a game Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres. And it wasn’t just a bad night—it was the kind of outing that leaves a permanent imprint on your baseball soul.
A Rookie’s Rough Ride
Here’s what happened: Simon, just 25 years old and still pretty fresh on the big-league stage, had a nightmare of a start—three errors in just three innings. And for a brief, cruel moment, it was looking like four—until the scorer took pity and ruled the last one a hit. But by then, the damage was done, emotionally more than anything.
You could see it on his face, on his posture, in the way he tried to hold it together. But when that third inning wrapped, Simon did what a lot of us would do when the pressure mounts and the world feels like it’s collapsing—you find the nearest exit and get out of the spotlight. He ran off the field and straight into the clubhouse, visibly in tears.
A Moment of Grace from a Star
It was a heartbreaking scene, no question. And if you’ve ever tried something big, taking a swing at your dream and falling flat in front of everyone, you know exactly how that feels.
But in the midst of that chaos, in walked Fernando Tatis Jr. with maybe the classiest moment of the night. “It’s baseball, it happens,” he said. “I know he’s a great player.” That’s not just sportsmanship; that’s humanity. A guy who’s been there offering a lifeline, reminding Simon—and the rest of us—that one night doesn’t define a career.
Eyes on the Comeback
With the Marlins and Padres set to wrap up their series Wednesday afternoon. Will Simon be back on the field? Will he get a shot at redemption? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure: baseball is a game of failure, and the ones who bounce back are the ones who make history.
Ronny Simon might’ve stumbled, but this could be the moment he remembers as the start of something greater. Let’s hope he gets that chance.
