Some drama has been brewing around the Atlanta Braves over the past few days. That is because star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. took to social media to give his thoughts on what would have happened had he not hustled out a double like his teammate Jarred Kelenic did the other day.
Kelenic was thrown out at second base after not running out a ball that he thought was a home run. Acuña responded on X, saying, ” If it were me, they would take me out of the game.”
That comment set Acuña up for some backlash, even though the tweet was deleted shortly after.
Former MLB Catcher Justifies Double Standard in Atlanta
What Acuña Jr. is saying in his tweet is essentially that he does not appreciate the double standard being set in Atlanta. The media and others have crushed Acuña Jr. in the past for not running out batted balls. He was even removed from a game by Brian Snitker after admiring a ball that ended up hitting the wall.
Former MLB catcher A.J. Pierzynski explained why there is a double standard in Atlanta. On Foul Territory, Pierzynski said, “Superstars are guys they treat a little bit differently. Why? Because they want to get more out of them.”
Also, fellow former MLB catcher and co-host Erik Kratz said, “The precedent is set with your superstar.”
Every team sees how their superstar plays and tries to follow their example. So if your superstar is not hustling, it sets a bad example to the rest of the team.
Big league managers want more out of guys like Ronald Acuña Jr. for the right reasons, says @AJPierzynski12 and @ErikKratz31.
“The precedent is set with your superstar.” pic.twitter.com/cDe6EnGXp9
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 21, 2025
Acuña Jr. is still working his way back from the ACL surgery he underwent last season. He is expected to debut at some point in the first half of the 2025 season. When healthy, there are few players better than Acuña Jr. in the sport. The Braves hope that Acuña Jr. can make a smooth return and provide a much-needed spark.
Braves Need To Make Up Ground
After a brutal start to the season, the Braves have found themselves in last place in the NL East. They have struggled in all aspects of the game and need Acuña Jr. back as a steady part of their offense.
The Braves recently welcomed ace Spencer Strider back to their starting rotation. He made one start but is now back on the injured list after suffering a hamstring injury. It seems like the Braves cannot avoid the injury bug, which can derail any team.
That said, Acuña Jr. is one of the actual difference makers in baseball. If he can return without any setback, he very well can turn Atlanta’s fortune around.
