Ronald Acuña Jr., outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, addressed rumors on his podcast “La Bestia” where he was misinterpreted as criticizing former manager Brian Snitker. During an episode with Brewers players William Contreras and Jackson Chourio, Acuña made a comment in Spanish that was initially translated to suggest criticism of Snitker, though Acuña later denied this interpretation, stating on Wednesday night after the Braves’ elimination from the NLDS that he wasn’t referring to any specific manager. The misunderstanding led to online speculation and a video defense by translator Phillip Feliz, who clarified his translation process and dismissed claims that he was intentionally damaging the Braves' reputation.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ronald Acuna Jr., an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, faced controversy after comments he made during a podcast were interpreted as criticizing his former manager Brian Snitker. On Monday, while appearing on "La Bestia" with Brewers players William Contreras and Jackson Chourio, Acuna spoke in Spanish about coaches and used language that some fans perceived as disrespectful toward Snitker. The specific quote, translated by Phillip Feliz on X (formerly Twitter), included the phrase “c–ksucker thought he was the king,” which sparked speculation.
However, after the Braves were eliminated by the Dodgers in the NLDS on Wednesday night, Acuna denied taking shots at Snitker through an interview with The Athletic. He clarified that he wasn't pointing fingers and refused to name any specific coach, citing a personal code of conduct. Despite this denial, speculation among fans and media persisted about the exact nature of his comments and their intent towards former team leadership.
Written for “Ronald Acuna Podcast Drama” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Despite what fans intially thought, Ronald Acuña Jr. denied taking a shot at his former Braves manager, Brian Snitker on his podcast “La Bestia” this week.
asserted
Jr. → think → podcast
During Monday’s episode of the podcast with Brewers stars William Contreras and Jackson Chourio, the former asked Acuña in Spanish about the Braves’ coaches and seemed to point to how things have been in the first season without Snitker — though the catcher didn’t name the manager.
asserted
catcher → ask → manager
They didn’t bother me again.
asserted
They → bother → me
You know that c–ksucker thought he was the king,” Acuña responded as reported by Phillip Feliz, a known Spanish-to-English athlete translator on X.
On Wednesday night after the Braves were eliminated by the Dodgers in the NLDS, the outfielder told The Athletic he did not take a swipe at Snitker in that moment.
asserted
he → know → moment
He declined to name the coach he was speaking about.
asserted
he → decline → coach
“I’m not going to violate that code,” he said via an interpreter.
asserted
he → go → interpreter
“We were just talking about the past, even things all the way back to the minor leagues.”
asserted
We → talk → leagues
Before Acuña finished his next sentence on the podcast, Contreras began to say, “El gerente,” a term that means “manager” in Spanish, but it’s specifically used for a general manager rather than the skipper of a team.
asserted
it → finish → team
The interpretation led to intense speculation that Acuña’s comment was directed at Snitker.
asserted
comment → lead → Snitker
Many questioned Feliz’s translation and went after him online.
asserted
Many → question → him
Feliz later posted a video defending his translation of the podcast clip, insinuating the Braves questioned him directly.
asserted
Braves → post → him
“I want to make something clear.
asserted
something → want → ?
My job on social media is not to care for any MLB team’s reputation.
asserted
job → care → reputation
Want me to care for your reputation?
asserted
me → want → reputation
Reach out to me,” Feliz said on Tuesday morning in a video on X. “If I do that willingly on the timeline, I chose to.
asserted
I → reach → timeline
It’s not because I’m getting paid to.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
If you want to question my translations when you don’t even speak the language, you’re a fool.
asserted
you → want → language
“You want to question my work on X and question whether I’m a Dodgers spy playing 3D chess because I decided to drop this clip ahead of Game 3 against the Dodgers?
asserted
I → want → Dodgers
You know what’s far more interesting?
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what → know → ?
The fact that Ronald Acuña Jr. himself decided to drop this episode on their off day.
asserted
Jr. → decide → day
Their podcast, ‘La Bestia,’ dropped less than 24 hours ago.
asserted
podcast → drop → ?
It wasn’t I fetching for clips to drop, he handed me the clip.
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he → fetch → clip
As far as me trying to tarnish the Braves’ reputation, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: I’m rooting for the Braves this series.
asserted
I → try → Braves
“If you want to question my work on X when my posts get global reach, I need to ensure I’m posting with accuracy.
asserted
I → want → accuracy
If you believe heart to heart that Ronald Acuña Jr. wasn’t talking about Brian Snitker, go watch the interview [and] come back to me.
asserted
Jr. → believe → me
Go watch the extended clip that I posted [and] come back to me.”
asserted
I → go → me
Acuña and Snitker, who held the manager role in Atlanta from 2017-25, had some friction throughout their lengthy time together that included six division titles and a World Series in 2021.
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that → hold → 2021
On Aug. 18, 2019 when a 21-year-old Acuña hit a ball to the right field wall against the Dodgers, he didn’t run hard out of the batter’s box and it only resulted in a single.
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it → hit → single
A frustrated Snitker pulled him from the game.
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Snitker → pull → game
Similarly in 2025, Jarred Kelenic admired a long ball and was thrown out at second base for trying to stretch the hit against the Twins.
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Kelenic → admire → Twins
When asked if Snitker talked to Kelenic about the decision, he said “Was I supposed to?”
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I → ask → decision
Acuña, 28, who was rehabbing a torn ACL at the time, took to X to comment on the situation in a since-deleted post.
asserted
who → rehabbe → post
He wrote: “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.”
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they → write → game
He later apologized to the manager and his teammates, deeming it a “moment of frustration.”
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it → apologize → frustration
Following the 2025 season in which the Braves missed the playoffs, Snitker stepped down and moved on to hold a senior advisory role within the organization.
asserted
Snitker → follow → organization
Walt Weiss, Snitker’s longtime bench coach, replaced him and tried to push the team past the Dodgers in the NLDS.
asserted
Weiss → replace → NLDS
Acuña had a quiet postseason, going 3-for-24 through seven games with no home runs nor RBIs.
asserted
Acuña → have → runs
He had an OPS of .425.
asserted
He → have → .425
It follows a regular season in which he hit .255 with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs across 107 games.
asserted
he → follow → games
He has not hit a home run in the postseason since the 2020 NLDS against the Marlins.
asserted
He → hit → Marlins
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
