Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. sustained a torn ACL in his left knee during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The injury occurred as Acuña was leading off from second base in the first inning of the game. He fell to the ground in pain and had to be helped off the field by trainers.
Acuña, a four-time All-Star and reigning National League MVP, had an impressive 2023 season leading the league in runs, hits, stolen bases, and on-base percentage. However, this season he had a slower start with four home runs, 15 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 48 games played. This ACL tear is his second major knee injury, the first being in his right knee back in 2021.
The Braves confirmed the injury after Acuña underwent an MRI and announced that he will miss the remainder of the season. This is a significant blow to the team, who were already without All-Star starter Spencer Strider, who underwent season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow. The team had high hopes for the season and aimed to compete for another World Series title without their star players and adjusted to new challenges without Acuña on the field.
Despite this setback, Acuña remains optimistic about his future recovery. “I’m feeling much better than I did yesterday,” he said after undergoing surgery on Monday. “I’ll do everything I can to come back stronger than ever.”
