The Braves secured a win last night, marking their first back-to-back victories of the season, largely thanks to a stellar performance by Alex Verdugo. However, a pivotal moment in the sixth inning nearly cost them the game.
With the score tied at three, Jarred Kelenic stepped up to the plate with a runner on first and launched a high fly ball toward the right-field wall.
It seemed like it was going to clear the fence, and Kelenic admired the shot, walking down the first baseline while holding his bat. But the ball hit off the wall instead, and Kelenic was thrown out trying to reach second.
Fortunately, it was just the first out of the inning, and Verdugo managed to bring in the go-ahead run, which ultimately gave the Braves the win.
Still, the situation could have unfolded much differently. Kelenic, who’s barely hanging on to a roster spot while his team struggles with more losses than wins, should know better.
If you’re going to show off after a hit, it better clear the fence, and even then, you can’t afford to make an out on the bases.
This is baseball 101, and it’s worth noting that Braves manager Brian Snitker had once benched Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2019 for a similar mistake, with Freddie Freeman publicly criticizing Acuña afterward.
But for some reason, Snitker didn’t address Kelenic’s blunder, which drew criticism from Acuña, who pointed out the double standard.
After all, Snitker had punished Acuña for doing the same thing, even though Acuña didn’t get thrown out at second, and the Braves weren’t facing a losing record as they are now.
While it’s debatable whether benchings are ever necessary in professional baseball for these kinds of mistakes, Snitker’s failure to address Kelenic’s error is questionable given the history.
Hopefully, this doesn’t turn into an ongoing issue, as the Braves don’t need any more distractions after their recent wins.
