Acuña criticizes Braves manager Snitker’s response to Kelenic failing to hustle on long drive

ATLANTA AP Ronald Acu a Jr watched with interest when Jarred Kelenic was thrown out at second base after failing to hustle out of the batter s box on a long drive in the Atlanta Braves - win over the Minnesota Twins Acu a went to social media to criticize the way manager Brian Snitker handled the situation Acu a recovering from surgery after tearing his left ACL last May replied to a post on X by MLB com reporter Mark Bowman on Sunday when Bowman was solicited if Snitker had commented on Kelenic Bowman posted that Snitker protected Kelenic by replying Was I supposed to when urged if he had commented anything to Kelenic Acu a replied to Bowman s post If it were me they would take me out of the event The response by Acu a was removed about one hour later Kelenic s drive on Saturday night bounced off the wall in right field and he was thrown out at second base by Trevor Larnach Acu a was removed from the Braves - win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug Then only but already an All-Star Acu a was slow to leave the batter s box on a long drive that bounced off the right-field wall for a long single Snitker waited one inning and then took out Acu a He didn t run You ve got to run Snitker stated of Acu a after the competition It s not going to be acceptable here As a teammate you re responsible for other guys That name on the front is a lot more central 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 squad down like that Acu a had his knee evaluated last week and has been cleared to begin cutting as he continues his rehabilitation He could return to the Braves lineup next month Acu a was hurt after games last season and hit just with four home runs one year after winning the National League MVP with home runs steals and a batting average Kelenic hitting only could lose his starting job when Acu a returns The Braves entered Sunday s battle with back-to-back wins for the first time this season as new leadoff hitter and left fielder Alex Verdugo got off to a quick start Verdugo had four hits and drove in the go-ahead run on Saturday night AP MLB https apnews com hub mlb Source