Baseball’s unwritten rules have always had a flair for chaos, especially when loyalty, hustle, and social media all collide in one dugout drama. And when a Braves star outfielder turns his thumbs into torches, even the calmest clubhouses can catch fire. Enter Ronald Acuña Jr., who recently decided that discretion is overrated—and let’s just say, one top analyst isn’t exactly applauding the performance.

Calling out your team manager on social media is never the right option, but that is exactly what Acuña Jr. did. Jarred Kelenic launched a fly ball and paused, admiring his assumed homer. Unfortunately, it dropped inside the park. After seeing this, Acuña Jr. posted on X, writing, “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.” Although later he deleted it, the questions were already rolling in.

One of the people who disagreed with Acuña Jr. and questioned him was Ken Rosenthal. In a recent The Athletic article, Rosenthal wrote, “Ronald Acuña Jr. should have addressed the double standard internally rather than taking to X…. Just as players make mistakes, so do managers. And Snitker hardly distinguished himself with his failure to bench Kelenic and his feeble responses to reporters’ questions about the incident the past two days.” 

For doing the same thing Kelenic did, three other players were subbed off. Ender Inciarte, Marcell Ozuna, and Acuña Jr. were all benched for similar base-running sins. Kelenic, who is white, wasn’t—and suddenly, the whispers of racial bias got a little louder. However, history shows that Braves manager Brian Snitker has been there to support Acuña Jr. and Ozuna many times.

Snitker stood up for Acuña Jr. with all his heart in 2018 when the Miami Marlins decided to drill him repeatedly in the series. He also supported Ozuna in times of need by giving him time to play. The 2023 season dragged for Ozuna, leaving Braves fans restless and calling for his exit. His bat stayed cold too long, and the crowd’s patience melted faster than Atlanta summer heat. But Snitker struck with him and gave him playing time.

When asked about Kelenic, Snitker defended him, saying, “I don’t look for him to not (run hard) because he plays with his hair on fire all the time.” Snitker believes Kelenic is a fiery competitor who brings relentless energy every time he steps in. Despite the mistake, he sees a player who hustles hard and leaves nothing behind on the field.

And just like Kelenic missing second base, Acuña Jr. might’ve missed the mark with his post. While his frustration isn’t unfounded, airing grievances on X rarely elevates the conversation—it just adds fuel to a fire no one asked for. Rosenthal didn’t mince words, but maybe that’s what happens when clubhouse tensions meet public courtrooms. If Acuña Jr. wants consistency, calling out the umpire might work better than calling out the manager.

Jarred Kelenic owns up to mistake after Brian Snitker controversy

Accountability in MLB is rare enough to warrant a parade. And when it comes from a struggling hitter in the middle of a firestorm, it’s downright shocking. Kelenic, once a top prospect and now batting below his weight, decided to take the high road while the internet took sides. In a plot twist no one saw coming, Kelenic owned it before anyone even asked him to.

The first lesson in baseball? Hit the ball and hustle your way to first without delay. Jarred Kelenic, however, paused for admiration, forgetting baseball rewards speed, not style points, on live plays. After hitting the ball, Kelenic decided to admire his hit rather than get one base. Although it didn’t cost the Braves the game, this was a blunder by the player.

After the game, Kelenic did address this issue. He said, “It’s my action, so I don’t need him to call me in. I gotta be on second base. There’s no excuse for it.” Kelenic was clearly frustrated with his misplay, a moment that left him visibly shaken and reflective. He didn’t just apologize to Snitker—he extended that mea culpa to teammates, fans, and baseball’s invisible rulebook.

And in a season where his bat’s been quieter than a library at midnight, Kelenic’s voice of accountability might be his loudest hit yet. Owning up without being dragged into the office? That’s veteran-level humility from a guy still trying to prove he belongs. Maybe next time he’ll sprint instead of stare—but hey, at least he’s rounding the bases of self-awareness.