ATLANTA — After a rough start to this season, there was far more good than bad for the Atlanta Braves as they swept a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Truist Park.
Trouble was, there was also a little bit of ugly for manager Brian Snitker and the team to deal with after Sunday’s 6-2 win that followed a pair of comeback victories to begin the weekend interleague series.
Injured star Ronald Acuña Jr. watched with interest when teammate Jarred Kelenic was thrown out at second base after failing to hustle out of the batter’s box on a long drive in Saturday’s 4-3 win. Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP and the team’s regular right fielder and leadoff hitter, went to social media to criticize the way Snitker handled the situation — or rather, what the 69-year-old manager didn’t do.
Acuña, who is still working his way back from surgery after tearing the ACL in his left knee last May, replied to a post on X by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman on Sunday when the Braves beat writer was asked if Snitker had commented on Kelenic. Bowman posted that Snitker “protected Kelenic by replying: ‘Was I supposed to’ when asked if he had said anything to Kelenic.”
Acuña, a four-time MLB All-Star, replied to Bowman’s post: “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.” The response by Acuña was removed about one hour later.