Ronald Acuna Jr. apologizes to Braves manager Brian Snitker and teammates for controversy over a social media post

Ronald Acuna Jr., who plays for the Atlanta Braves, recently apologized to his manager and teammates. This comes after a month, when he had accused the manager of treating players differently. Acuna is currently recovering from knee surgery and was with the team on Wednesday while doing rehab in the minor leagues.

Ronald Acuna Jr. apologizes and moves forward
The issue erupted on April 19, when Acuna had shared a post on social media, after Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic was tagged out after breaking into a home run trot on a ball that stayed in the yard. The post read "if it were me, they would take me out of the game.”

Interestingly, once the game, baseball coach and Atlanta Braves’ manager Brian Snitker was asked whether he spoke to Kelenic, he said:

”Was I supposed to?"

Here’s Ronald Acuña Jr.’s full media session, where he addresses his tweet, apologizes to teammates and Brian Snitker, and talks about what he needs to work on in Triple-A. pic.twitter.com/7xQDYcFDsD

— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) May 14, 2025

It was back in August 2019, Ronald Acuna Jr. was taken out of a game for not running hard after hitting the ball. After the game got over, Braves’ manager Brian Snitker said that players must always give full effort and think about the team, and not just themselves. Snitker had said:

“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 and that name on the front is a lot more important than that name on the back of that jersey."

Ronald Acuña Jr. said he apologized to Brian Snitker, Jarred Kelenic and his teammates. He said he sent the tweet in a moment of frustration as the team was struggling and he couldn’t. He said owned up to his mistake and is moving forward.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) May 14, 2025

In connection with the incident, Acuna has now apologized to Snitker and his teammates for accusing him of “treating players differently.”

While Acuna is now working his way back from knee surgery and started playing again in the Florida Complex League, where he hit a home run in his first game. This league is for young or recovering players. Later this week, he will move up to Triple-A, a higher level of minor league baseball . The Braves haven’t said exactly how many rehab games he will play.

Braves’ coach Rick Kranitz says team will figure out over Spencer Strider’s issues

Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Spencer Strider threw slower than expected during practice on Wednesday. The team manager and coach believes it's because he hasn’t pitched in a while due to a hamstring injury. They still think he might be ready to return soon and possibly start a game next week against the Nationals.

Rick Kranitz, who is Atlanta Braves’ coach said:

“We’re all going to meet and figure out what we’re going to do next.”

Brian Snitker said:

“It’s going to take him repetitions and starts in order to build that velocity back, I think that’s normal for anybody who has been off for the time he has."

Kranitz further added:

“Velocity is great, but it's about the action on the ball that really makes the difference, I felt like the ball was coming out really well.”

Also Read: Brian Snitker Leadership Questioned Amid Braves Struggles