Latest news with #Snitker
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ronald Acuña Jr.'s comments on injury scare showed why Brian Snitker is a problem
An emotional Ronald Acuña Jr. meets with the media after leaving Tuesday's Braves game with right Achilles 2023 NL MVP missed most of the 2024 season with a torn ACL in his left knee (and suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in 2021). #MLB By all accounts, the 2025 season has been a complete disaster for the Atlanta Braves. And it's difficult to overlook the role that manager Brian Snitker has played in baseball's biggest disappointment. On Tuesday night, it nearly cost the Braves beyond this season. Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from Tuesday's game against Kansas City in the sixth inning after what the Braves described as Achilles tightness. With an Achilles injury, a medical staff is typically able to test for a tear before needing an MRI to confirm. So, the Braves likely avoided a worst-case scenario with their superstar who just returned from a second ACL tear. But amid Acuña's postgame comments, he revealed a troubling trend about the Braves manager. Snitker continues to put his players at risk either by simply not noticing an injury or allowing players to push through pain when they shouldn't. Acuña told reporters that his calf and Achilles pain started on Monday night, but he convinced Snitker to let him play on Tuesday because he had already missed so much time due to his ACL recovery and back pain around the All-Star break. That's where a manager needs to step in and save a player from himself. Obviously, Acuña is a competitor who loves the game and wants to be on the field for his team. But Acuña's longterm health has to be Snitker's top priority — especially in a season heading nowhere. Yet, Snitker couldn't make that tough decision over Acuña's objections, and it nearly sent the Braves superstar into a third major injury. Acuña's discomfort is in the upper Achilles/lower right calf region. Preliminary tests provided no reason to believe he has a significant injury. Today's MRI will verify if this is true. If results match current expectations, there's a chance Acuña could play again in 2-3 weeks Still, that's managerial malpractice at the highest order, and it wasn't a one-off mistake on Snitker's part this season. We already saw as Snitker allowed breakout rookie AJ Smith-Shawver to pitch into what ultimately became a ruptured UCL. It took Spencer Strider alerting the coaches in order to get Smith-Shawver out of the game. Smith-Shawver ended up needing Tommy John surgery and could miss most or all of 2026. WOW man. We are so lucky to have Spencer StriderAfter AJSS got hit by a line drive he stayed in the game. Strider walked over to Kranny and told him he noticed something with AJSS arm, then they went out and pulled him. Strider talked with the coaches then went down to check on Snitker also allowed Chris Sale to face two more batters after the Braves ace had fractured his rib trying to make a play in the ninth inning against the Mets. Sale had already thrown 107 pitches before the injury and was going for a complete game. It was just another instance of Snitker deferring to his players' competitiveness over looking out for their wellbeing. That's the danger of having a manager who is so clearly checked out. It could cost a team beyond a single season.
Fox Sports
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. Placed on IL With Achilles Tightness, Will Undergo MRI
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from Tuesday night's loss at Kansas City with tightness in his right Achilles tendon and will be placed on the 10-day injured list. Acuña experienced the discomfort after chasing down a ball in right field. He'll be evaluated further on Wednesday with an MRI in Atlanta. "It's an Achilles thing, it's going to take a while," manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves fell 9-6 to the Royals. "He'll go on the IL and hopefully in 10 days or so it'll clear up." Acuña said he initially felt pain while running the bases on Monday night. "It happened when I scored from first to home on that play," Acuña said through an interpreter. "They are going to examine me tomorrow so we'll see how it goes." The discomfort returned after Acuña ran for a foul ball in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Later in the inning, a ball was hit over his head and he gave chase. He left the game after the sixth. "It was hurting even more," Acuña said through an interpreter. "I was kind of out there hoping they wouldn't hit it my way and of course any time you do that, they always hit it your way." Acuña said the pain was worse than it was on Monday. "I told them yesterday and everyone said, 'Take the day if you want it, you can have the day off,'" Acuña said. "I've missed so much time already through injuries I didn't want to miss any more time." The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP missed most of last season with a torn left ACL, and only returned to the Braves' lineup on May 23 this season. In 2021, Acuña tore his right ACL in July, and missed the rest of the year before a late-April return in 2022. "It's an injury, I'm worried," Acuña said. "It's more pain, but it feels kind of, I feel it a lot when I try to put pressure on it." Acuña did walk off the field before a trainer followed him into the locker room. The Braves (45-61) have dealt with numerous injuries during their disappointing season. "It's just like, Ozzie (Albies) hit a ball into the dirt and it went in his eye," Snitker said. "I was worried that that was an oblique the way he reacted there. I don't know, it's just one of those things, you just have to deal with it. It's not fun dealing with it, not easy dealing with it, but you just have to." Acuña is batting .306/.429/.577 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs in 55 games this season. He went 2 for 4 with a homer on Monday night. Snitker said Eli White will play right field in Acuña's absence. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
NBC Sports
30-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Braves All-Star OF Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves with Achilles tendon tightness and will go to IL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the loss at Kansas City with tightness in his right Achilles tendon and will be placed on the 10-day injured list. Acuña experienced the discomfort after chasing down a ball in right field. He'll be evaluated further. 'It's an Achilles thing, it's going to take a while,' manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves fell 9-6 to the Royals. 'He'll go on the IL and hopefully in 10 days or so it'll clear up.' Acuña said he initially felt pain while running the bases on Monday night. 'It happened when I scored from first to home on that play,' Acuña said through an interpreter. 'They are going to examine me tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.' The discomfort returned after Acuña ran for a foul ball in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Later in the inning, a ball was hit over his head and he gave chase. He left the game after the sixth. 'It was hurting even more,' Acuña said. 'I was kind of out there hoping they wouldn't hit it my way and of course any time you do that, they always hit it your way.' Acuña said the pain was worse than it was on Monday. 'I told them yesterday and everyone said, 'Take the day if you want it, you can have the day off,'' Acuña said. 'I've missed so much time already through injuries I didn't want to miss any more time.' The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP missed most of last season with a torn left ACL. 'It's an injury, I'm worried,' Acuña said. 'It's more pain, but it feels kind of, I feel it a lot when I try to put pressure on it.' The Braves (45-61) have dealt with numerous injuries during their disappointing season. 'It's just like, Ozzie (Albies) hit a ball into the dirt and it went in his eye,' Snitker said. 'I was worried that that was an oblique the way he reacted there. I don't know, it's just one of those things, you just have to deal with it. It's not fun dealing with it, not easy dealing with it, but you just have to.' Acuña walked off the field before a trainer followed him into the locker room. Acuña is batting .306 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs in 55 games this season. He went 2 for 4 with a homer on Monday night. Snitker said Eli White will play right field in Acuña's absence.
New York Times
30-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves game with Achilles injury
KANSAS CITY — The Braves' hellish season took yet another painful turn Tuesday when Ronald Acuña Jr. left the game in the sixth inning with right Achilles soreness that will land him on the 10-day injured list. Acuña is scheduled to fly back to Atlanta on Wednesday for an MRI to rule out anything more serious. He was seen wearing a protective boot after the game. Advertisement The Braves and their star right fielder hope that it's only tightness — the preliminary diagnosis after a team doctor examined him briefly at Kauffman Stadium. When asked if he was worried, Acuña said through an interpreter, 'Yeah, of course. I mean, it's an injury. I'm worried.' Acuña said he didn't feel a pop, and he was able to jog off the field under his own power when manager Brian Snitker replaced him with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, after noticing Acuña was slow to pursue a foul ball in the right-field corner, followed by a double to the left-center gap moments later. 'It's more pain,' Acuña said, rather than the pop and subsequent agony typically associated with a ruptured Achilles. 'But I feel it a lot when I try to put pressure on it.' Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from tonight's game in the middle of the 6th inning with right achilles tightness. He jogged off the field under his own power — Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 30, 2025 Acuña said he tweaked the Achilles in Monday's series opener at Kansas City while scoring from first base on Austin Riley's eighth-inning double, but thought he could play through it. He told the training staff he wanted to play Tuesday, even after they told him he could take the day off. 'I've just missed so much time already through injuries, I don't want to miss any more time,' said Acuña, adding that the injury worsened in Tuesday's game, especially in the sixth inning while pursuing the fly balls Snitker referred to. The Braves have dealt with pitching injuries and slumping position players all season, and Acuña has been one of the few bright spots for a team that's 45-61, well out of playoff contention for weeks, even if not yet mathematically eliminated. Their entire Opening Day starting rotation is on the 60-day IL. Advertisement 'It's just one of them things that — you just deal with it,' Snitker said. 'It's not fun dealing with it, it's not easy dealing with, but you just have to.' Initially, Acuña waved his finger when Snitker sent Eli White out to replace him, signaling that he wanted to continue playing. But as White neared him, Acuña began his slow jog to the dugout, then walked with the team's head trainer to the clubhouse. Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP and a five-time All-Star, missed the Braves' first 49 games this season while completing a year-long rehab from ACL surgery on his left knee. That was the second ACL surgery for Acuña, who tore his right ACL in July 2021. He returned to the lineup in less than 10 months after that surgery and dealt with residual soreness throughout the 2022 season. This time, doctors and trainers laid out a slower, more conservative approach to his ACL rehab, and Acuña has had no significant issues with his legs since being activated from the IL on May 23. He has missed only one game due to injury — because of low-back soreness after feeling a twinge during a pregame workout on July 8 in Sacramento. He rejoined the lineup the next day and has played in all but three Braves games since coming off the IL. He's hit .306 with 24 extra-base hits (14 home runs) and a 1.006 OPS in 55 games. Acuña was voted to start in the All-Star game, leading all NL outfielders in fan voting despite missing the first eight weeks of the season.
Fox Sports
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Braves All-Star OF Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves with Achilles tendon tightness and will go to IL
Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from Tuesday night's loss at Kansas City with tightness in his right Achilles tendon and will be placed on the 10-day injured list. Acuña experienced the discomfort after chasing down a ball in right field. He'll be evaluated further on Wednesday. 'It's an Achilles thing, it's going to take a while,' manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves fell 9-6 to the Royals. 'He'll go on the IL and hopefully in 10 days or so it'll clear up.' Acuña said he initially felt pain while running the bases on Monday night. 'It happened when I scored from first to home on that play,' Acuña said through an interpreter. 'They are going to examine me tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.' The discomfort returned after Acuña ran for a foul ball in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Later in the inning, a ball was hit over his head and he gave chase. He left the game after the sixth. 'It was hurting even more,' Acuña said. 'I was kind of out there hoping they wouldn't hit it my way and of course any time you do that, they always hit it your way.' Acuña said the pain was worse than it was on Monday. 'I told them yesterday and everyone said, 'Take the day if you want it, you can have the day off,'' Acuña said. 'I've missed so much time already through injuries I didn't want to miss any more time.' The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP missed most of last season with a torn left ACL. 'It's an injury, I'm worried,' Acuña said. 'It's more pain, but it feels kind of, I feel it a lot when I try to put pressure on it.' The Braves (45-61) have dealt with numerous injuries during their disappointing season. 'It's just like, Ozzie (Albies) hit a ball into the dirt and it went in his eye,' Snitker said. 'I was worried that that was an oblique the way he reacted there. I don't know, it's just one of those things, you just have to deal with it. It's not fun dealing with it, not easy dealing with it, but you just have to.' Acuña walked off the field before a trainer followed him into the locker room. Acuña is batting .306 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs in 55 games this season. He went 2 for 4 with a homer on Monday night. Snitker said Eli White will play right field in Acuña's absence. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3
