Braves Outfielder Jarred Kelenic Has All-Time Bad Suicide Squeeze Attempt

We’re all taught as little leaguers how to bunt, and when we move up to the big field, we’re taught how to execute a suicide squeeze. Sadly, those lessons appear to have been completely lost on Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic.

Kelenic had a golden opportunity to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead in extra innings in a crucial division matchup against the New York Mets. But, the former Mets star prospect totally bungled it, getting Ramon Laureano picked off third and allowing the Mets to win the game with one run in the bottom of the tenth.

Kelenic came up to bat with Laureano on third with one out in the 10th and the suicide squeeze play was on. For those not super familiar with the complexities of baseball, Kelenic’s job is to get a bunt down at all costs, as Laureano will be stealing home on the pitch. Worst case, you foul it off. But, you cannot, under any circumstances, miss, and you can’t pull your bat back.

Let’s look at what Kelenic did.

That’s a tough pitch to bunt, there’s no doubt about it. But, his job was not to be selective about what pitch to bunt. It was to make contact at all costs, or else the scoring threat would be over. Instead, he pulled his bat back! In the game of baseball, that’s a truly unforgivable mistake.

And, the Mets made him pay. With two outs in the bottom half, red-hot Jeff McNeil drove a ball to right field that Ramon Laureano overran to give the Mets a 3-2 win.

The Braves have really been struggling, and now the Mets are just one-half game behind them for the top spot in the NL Wild Card race. A loaded Atlanta team has seen injuries pile up to studs like Ronald Acuna, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, and Spencer Strider. It’s starting to show on the field.

But, they had a chance to win this game, and Jarred Kelenic committed an unforgivable sin.