Ronald Acuña Jr. is getting a lot of hate right now after the Atlanta Braves' elimination by the Dodgers, and some of it is completely fair. While some are obviously going too far, Acuña Jr. is supposed to be a superstar who can carry the offense when the team needs him most. Instead, Acuña Jr. was almost an afterthought in the postseason, and his familiar injury issues popped up yet again. Fair or not, Acuña Jr. is the face of the Braves’ inept offense, and the numbers were certainly ugly.
However, that doesn't mean all of the hate that Acuña Jr. has received recently is completely deserved. There are many fans upset that Acuña Jr.'s partnership with the prediction market, Kalshi, was announced as the former MVP was flopping in Game 4, and his habit of cleansing his social media of Braves content during downtime is getting unfairly scrutinized, as well.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has partnered with Kalshi, making him the first MLB player to venture into prediction markets.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 8, 2026
Kalshi is also reportedly in talks with MLB for a leaguewide deal.https://t.co/3QLvkasxRS
It isn't fair, but Ronald Acuña Jr.'s actions in the wake of the Braves' NLDS loss are adding fuel to the drama fire around him
It is important to provide context to these moves before you grab your torches and head to Acuña Jr.'s house. Take Kalshi, for example. The Braves are one of five teams that had already announced a partnership with the "prediction market," as gross as that may seem. If you are Kalshi, who on the Braves do you want to feature in advertising? If you are the Braves, why wouldn't you encourage Acuña Jr. to partner with the company? While many of us consider prediction markets to be gambling that is lying about being gambling, which shouldn't be allowed in professional sports at all, Acuña Jr. was not in control of when the ad aired.
The "outrage" over Acuña Jr. scrubbing Braves branding out of his social media is even more dishonest. While some people in the world will try to generate drama for cheap attention and to fuel their Acuña Jr. narrative at every opportunity, Acuña Jr. does purge his social media frequently during downtime like the offseason. This isn't a falling out or a message being sent by Acuña Jr.'s camp. He is just a player after a really tough loss who wants to disconnect from all the noise at the first available opportunity, like he always has.
This is far from the first time Acuña Jr.'s timing when it comes to comments and/or actions was questionable. During the NLDS, a clip from Acuña Jr.'s podcast made the rounds in which he openly disparages an unknown former member of the Braves organization on social media. Why he would decide to stir up that drama in the middle of a playoff series is anyone’s guess at this point.
Unfortunately, Acuña Jr. will be under a microscope as long as he is with the Braves. He is the face of the team, for better or worse, and any hint of controversy or discord will get overblown. Still, it would be nice if he were a little more self-aware and tactful in these situations he keeps finding himself in.
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