In a recent game on Sunday, Ronald Acuña Jr. closely observed a significant moment when Jarred Kelenic was thrown out at second base. Kelenic failed to hustle out of the batter's box after hitting a long drive during the Atlanta Braves' thrilling 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. This incident sparked a reaction from Acuña, who took to social media to express his discontent regarding how manager Brian Snitker addressed the situation.
Acuña, who is currently recovering from surgery after tearing his left ACL last May, responded to a post made by MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman on the platform X. The post detailed Snitker's defense of Kelenic, where he responded to a question about whether he spoke to Kelenic by saying, "Was I supposed to?" Acuña's reaction was swift: he commented, "If it were me, they would take me out of the game." However, his remark was deleted about an hour later.
During the game, Kelenic's drive on Saturday night hit the wall in right field, but he was subsequently tagged out at second base by Trevor Larnach. This situation resonated with Acuña, who recalled a similar incident from 2019 when he himself was pulled from a game for not hustling. At that time, Acuña, then just 21 and already an All-Star, lagged out of the batter's box on a long drive that resulted in a single. Snitker took action, benching Acuña after one inning, emphasizing that players must be accountable for their actions and the impact on the team.
After the 2019 game, Snitker addressed the media, stating, "You've got to run." He further elaborated on the importance of teamwork, saying, "That name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back of that jersey." His message was clear: personal interests should take a backseat to team goals, as every player is responsible for their teammates. Snitker's philosophy stresses that to achieve greatness, players must prioritize the team's success over individual mistakes.
Amid this controversy, Acuña continues to focus on his recovery. Last week, he had his knee evaluated and received the green light to start cutting as part of his rehabilitation process. Fans are hopeful that Acuña will make a return to the Braves' lineup next month. His absence has been felt; last season, he played only 49 games, batting .250 with four home runs. This came after a stellar previous season where he won the National League MVP award, recording 41 home runs, 73 steals, and an impressive .337 batting average.
As the Braves move forward, the dynamics between players, management, and accountability will continue to shape the team's journey. Acuña's insights not only highlight the pressures athletes face but also reinforce the significance of teamwork in professional sports.
