Acuna Criticizes Braves’ Response to Kelenic’s Lack of Hustle
ATLANTA — The baseball world was abuzz when Ronald Acuna Jr. took to social media to express his discontent with how the Atlanta Braves handled a recent incident involving Jarred Kelenic. The incident occurred during the Braves’ narrow 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins, where Kelenic was thrown out at second base after failing to hustle out of the batter’s box on a long drive.
Acuna, who is currently on the mend from surgery after tearing his left ACL last May, was quick to voice his opinion on the matter. He responded to a post on X by MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman, who had shared that Braves manager Brian Snitker had been asked if he had commented on Kelenic’s lack of hustle. Snitker reportedly replied, “Was I supposed to,” when questioned about addressing Kelenic’s actions.
In a now-deleted response, Acuna remarked, “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.” This comment was removed about an hour later, but not before it sparked a conversation about the consistency of discipline within the Braves’ organization.
To provide some context, Kelenic’s drive on Saturday night bounced off the wall in right field, and he was subsequently thrown out at second base by Trevor Larnach. This incident drew parallels to a similar situation involving Acuna back in 2019.
During a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 19, 2019, Acuna, then just 21 years old and already an All-Star, was removed from the game after he was slow to leave the batter’s box on a long drive that resulted in a single. Snitker, at the time, was clear about his expectations, stating, “He didn’t run. You’ve got to run. It’s not going to be acceptable here. As a teammate, you’re responsible for 24 other guys. That name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back of that jersey. You can’t do that. We’re trying to accomplish something and do something special here and personal things have got to be put on the backburner. You just can’t let your team down like that.”
Acuna’s current status is promising, as he had his knee evaluated last week and has been cleared to begin cutting as part of his rehabilitation. There’s hope that he could return to the Braves’ lineup next month. Last season, Acuna was limited to just 49 games, hitting .250 with four home runs. This was a stark contrast to his MVP-winning season the year before, where he hit 41 home runs, stole 73 bases, and boasted a .337 batting average.
As for Kelenic, his performance has been underwhelming, with a batting average of only .170. There’s speculation that he could lose his starting job once Acuna makes his return. Meanwhile, the Braves have found some momentum, entering Sunday’s game with back-to-back wins for the first time this season. This success can be attributed in part to new leadoff hitter and left fielder Alex Verdugo, who has made an immediate impact with four hits and driving in the go-ahead run on Saturday night.
- Acuna’s social media comment highlights potential inconsistencies in team discipline.
- Kelenic’s performance and future with the Braves remain uncertain.
- Acuna’s return could bolster the Braves’ lineup next month.
- Verdugo’s strong start provides a boost for the Braves.
The situation has certainly stirred up discussions among fans and analysts alike, as they ponder the implications of Acuna’s comments and the potential impact on team dynamics. As the Braves continue their season, all eyes will be on how the team manages its roster and handles similar situations in the future.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
