The Atlanta Braves are approaching the end of an era as manager Brian Snitker is expected not to be re-signed, leading to his retirement after 50 years with the organization.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he's already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
However, Snitker appears determined to leave an impact on Ronald Acuña Jr. before his departure — though it may not be a positive one.
“At 27 years old, Acuña Jr. knows exactly what is expected of him. No one is tougher on Acuña Jr. than himself, and by moving him down in the lineup two days in a row, Snitker is taking unnecessary shots at a player who is just trying to get healthy again. Whether he stays or goes, Snitker could come to regret such a decision,” FanSided’s Mike Powell wrote.
Snitker is known for being hard on Acuña. A recent example occurred when Jared Kelenic wasn’t benched for lack of hustle as Acuña once was — a move that prompted Acuña to call out Snitker. Yet, Acuña’s ongoing slump is becoming concerning, and Snitker’s approach isn’t helping.
“While his return from knee surgery went extremely well, Acuña Jr. has seemingly struggled to bounce back into form after his Achilles'/calf injury. In fact, some fans are already concerned that there is something deeply wrong with Acuña Jr. and it could bleed into 2026 and beyond,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
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Snitker’s treatment could worsen Acuña’s already difficult season and potentially impact his future performance. While Snitker aims to leave a lasting mark on the franchise, he may instead jeopardize the organization’s brightest star.