Not playing but still making headlines? And now a suspension on top of that? A piece of news about the off-field drama swirling around the Atlanta Braves— Ronald Acuña Jr. is allegedly facing a suspension while he’s still recovering from an injury—caught fire on social media after Acuña posted about his manager, Brian Snitker.
An X post that shocked the baseball community woke Atlanta Braves supporters from an apparently peaceful Sunday morning. Dynamic outfielder and reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. expressed his annoyance about a supposed double standard on social media. Reacting to Jarred Kelenic being thrown out at second base following Saturday night’s big drive that struck off the top of the right-field wall. Acuna tweeted, “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.” The tweet was removed before the Braves’ Sunday 6-2 victory over the Twins. But not before it sparked a media- and fan-based firestorm. And what happened afterwards was strange.
Following Ronald Acuña Jr.’s most recent tweet, a press statement allegedly from the Braves started to go viral online. What was in it? An announcement of a three-game suspension for Acuña following his return from injury. According to the post by Fax Sports, “The Atlanta Braves today announced they will be suspending outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. three games upon his return, for his tweet today which criticized Braves manager Brian Snitker.”
BREAKING: The Braves are suspending Ronald Acuña Jr. three games upon his return following a since-deleted tweet criticizing manager Brian Snitker.
(via @mlbbowman) pic.twitter.com/gtuM2NXErE
— FAX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFAX) April 20, 2025
Many wondered, is this for real? Can the Braves do that? Well, this press release is fake. It started on Fax Sports, a parody account well-known for producing satirical and fake sports news. Though it was fake, the release gained popularity on social media, and many people started thinking Ronald Acuña Jr. had been suspended.
Despite the star outfielder’s genuine tweet expressing unhappiness, the Braves have not taken any official disciplinary action. Manager Brian Snitker confirmed that he was aware of the message but had not yet contacted Acuna. He said, “I heard about it as I was walking to the dugout. I heard something was up. I came in and they said it was down. I haven’t talked to him, so I don’t know.”
But why did he tweet something like that? This follows Snitker’s earlier approach to comparable problems. Snitker emphasized effort and team responsibility after benching Acuña in 2019 for not hustling against the Dodgers, noting, “You’ve got to run. It’s not going to be acceptable here.”
The current issues relate to Acuña’s on-field behavior and the Atlanta Braves’ management’s expectations. Although he is talented, his perceived lack of hustle has led to criticism and corrective actions in the past. Amid all this, a voice has come out in support of #13.
Braves’ internal tensions rise
Ronald Acuña Jr. sparked social media debate after Braves manager Brian Snitker did not bench outfielder Jarred Kelenic for a recent Saturday night game. Fueling the fire, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic intervened in the matter and sided with the rightfielder’s point of view.
Rosenthal felt that Snitker should have consistently benched Kelenic, as he had done with Ronald Acuña Jr. in the past. Rosenthal argues that the 27-year-old’s removed post highlights team accountability and managerial fairness. He said, “Snitker should have taken the same stance with Kelenic, a struggling player who presented a much easier target than Acuña, a future MVP, did in 2019. Kelenic, batting .180, has been a subject of fan frustration. He very well could be the player sent to Triple A when Acuña rejoins the Braves, possibly in early May.” Well, he’s got a point.
“Instead, Snitker created an opening for the team’s franchise player to question him. This controversy, like most fueled by social media, might very well have a short shelf life. But the issue raised by Acuña is the kind that might expose a rift in a team that is almost one-third Latin,” he further added.
Now the circumstances have created the conditions for a perhaps major meeting between the underprivileged celebrity and his manager. The conclusion of this off-field conflict will be something everyone in the baseball community will be intently watching. As the Braves pursue their 2025 campaign, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return looms after a few weeks. It will be interesting to see whether it promotes team unity or reveals underlying issues within the Atlanta clubhouse.
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