Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during Sunday’s 8-1 victory against Pittsburgh. The injury occurred during a stolen base attempt in the first inning. Acuña, who began the game with a double, fell to the ground while running towards third base, injuring his knee. After being attended to on the field, he walked off with assistance. Initially diagnosed with left knee soreness, an MRI later confirmed a complete ACL tear, necessitating season-ending surgery.
This injury is the second ACL tear for Acuña, who previously tore his right ACL on July 20, 2021. Despite wearing a brace post-game, the 26-year-old outfielder felt this injury was less severe than the previous one, noting that it didn’t feel as painful or significant. The injury happened when Acuña anticipated a slow throw from catcher Joey Bart, but the throw came in faster, causing him to abruptly pivot back to second base and twist his knee.
Acuña has had a solid season, batting .250 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 49 games. He is a four-time All-Star and had a standout season last year, hitting .337 with 41 homers and 106 RBIs.
The Braves are already dealing with significant injuries, including All-Star pitcher Spencer Strider, who underwent internal brace surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in April, and third baseman Austin Riley, who is day-to-day with a left intercostal strain. Catcher Sean Murphy is also on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury sustained on opening day.
Braves manager Brian Snitker expressed sympathy for Acuña and other injured players, emphasizing the personal toll these injuries take on athletes who are passionate about the game.
