Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. recently addressed a tense situation before rejoining the team. Currently on a rehab stint as he recovers from a torn ACL, Acuña said he apologized to his teammates and manager Brian Snitker for a social media post he made in April.

The post had criticized Snitker for what Acuña perceived as a double standard. During an April 19 game against the Minnesota Twins, outfielder Jarred Kelenic thought he had hit a home run and jogged out of the batter’s box. When the ball stayed in play, he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. Despite the miscue, Kelenic wasn’t disciplined by the team. Watching from afar while rehabbing, Acuña tweeted, “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.”

That comment referred to a 2019 incident when Snitker benched Acuña for not hustling on a similar play. Although Acuña later deleted the tweet, it drew attention, and broadcaster Jeff Francoeur criticized him for the comment. Snitker, meanwhile, said he hadn’t noticed Kelenic’s lack of hustle.

Ronald Acuña Jr

Eventually, Acuña cleared the air by speaking directly with Snitker and his teammates, expressing frustration about not being able to contribute during the team’s struggles — they were 7-13 at the time. Since then, Atlanta has improved to a 22-22 record entering Friday. Acuña began his rehab assignment Tuesday and is expected to give the team a boost upon his return. Pitcher Spencer Strider is also nearing a comeback after throwing a simulated game Wednesday as he recovers from a hamstring issue.

Acuña has rebuilt his relationship with Snitker since the 2019 incident, aided by his elite performance. From 2019 to 2024, he has posted a strong .288/.382/.520 batting line. While his talent doesn’t shield him from criticism, it’s tough to bench a player of his caliber every time a mistake happens.