Just as the Atlanta Braves seemed to be gaining momentum on the field, trouble has begun to brew off it. Manager Brian Snitker and star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. are now caught in a bit of drama, sparked by Snitker’s response—or lack thereof—to Jarred Kelenic being thrown out for not hustling during Saturday’s game.
Snitker chose not to discipline Kelenic after the play, which led Acuña to express his frustration on social media. In a now-deleted post on X/Twitter, Acuña responded to a comment about the situation, stating that if he had done what Kelenic did, he would’ve been benched—a claim that carries weight given similar past experiences.
After the Braves wrapped up their series against the Twins with a win on Sunday, Snitker had a chance to ease tensions. Instead, he stood by his decision, repeating several times that “every situation is different” when asked about the inconsistency in handling such incidents.
Regarding Acuña’s post, Snitker commented, “I didn’t see it and it’s down now. I haven’t talked to him.” He maintained that each case is unique, though he didn’t explain what made Kelenic’s different. He also admitted he didn’t initially notice that Kelenic was thrown out for lack of hustle until watching the replay the next day—perhaps the most troubling aspect of his response.
Brian Snitker makes Ronald Acuña Jr. drama worse with response
I’m not going to argue with Snitker on the idea that every situation is unique—he’s absolutely right, especially when pointing out that Kelenic usually gives maximum effort and Saturday’s lapse was out of character. But what seems to be missing from Snitker’s approach is an awareness of how this all looks from the outside.
When Acuña feels strongly enough to post on X/Twitter about the incident, it’s clear there’s unrest within the Braves clubhouse. Acuña, still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season, appears to believe he’s held to a different standard than others—like he’s not allowed the same margin for error. Some might argue that scrutiny comes with being a superstar, but that’s also something a manager like Snitker should address more thoughtfully.
Instead, Snitker stuck to his stance, defending his decisions both before and during the Twins series. In doing so, he may have made things worse.
And this kind of distraction is the last thing the Braves need. After a rough 5-13 start, they’ve finally found some momentum—sweeping the Twins and starting to climb back into the NL East mix. But tension between the team’s biggest star and its manager is hardly the kind of storyline fans want to see right now.
Calls for a change in leadership have been growing louder over the past year, and Snitker’s handling of this situation may only add fuel to that fire. If Acuña ends up feeling even more isolated because of it, it’s easy to understand why some believe a new voice in the clubhouse might be overdue.
