4:22 PM: Speaking to The Athletic's David O'Brien (X link) and other reporters after the game, Acuna said he will be placed on the 10-day injured list tomorrow, but feels he may only miss about a month rather than long. . Acuna compared the feeling of the injury to the 2018 ACL sprain instead of the one he suffered three years ago.
2:49 PM: Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. He left today's game against the Pirates in the first half due to an injury sustained while running the bases, limping off the field while showing his left knee. The Braves later referred to the problem as “left knee soreness.” Of note, the ACL tear that required surgery during the 2021 campaign affected Acuna's right knee.
The extent of the injury is unclear and likely won't be known in detail until after the game, but it appears that Acuna will miss at least some time with the issue given his injury history in the second half. Aside from the aforementioned ACL tear in his right leg, Acuna also dealt with a left knee injury earlier in his career. In his rookie season back in 2018, the condition affected his left knee and his left ACL which kept him out for a month.
The absence of almost any length for Acuna would be a major blow for the Braves on the heels of a difficult month of May that saw them fall to second place in the NL East, seven games back of the surging Phillies for the division crown. That's especially true given the offensive funk the team has found itself in this season; Atlanta hitters overall posted a wRC+ of 88 during the month of May leaving the Braves sixth lowest among all major league clubs.
Acuna has been in the middle of this collapse. It's been a pedestrian start to the season for the 26-year-old, as he's posted a near-league average of .246/.348/.356 in 221 trips to the plate entering play today. Despite those uninspiring numbers, there's no denying Acuna's ability to carry the offense at its best; the outfielder is just one season removed from a historic 2023 campaign that saw him win the NL MVP award while crushing 40 home runs, swiping 70 stolen bases, and leading the major leagues with a .416 on-base percentage.
Acuna's offensive malaise in 2024 after a dominant 2023 season was shared among many on the Braves' roster. Austin Riley has not appeared in a game in two weeks amid an intercostal injury but has posted a wRC+ of just 102 when healthy enough to appear in games, with other key pieces such as Matt Olson, Ozzie Albiesagain Michael Harris II posted similar pedestrian numbers to the plate this season after the club's 104-win campaign last year.
Looking at the possible implications of Acuna's injury, Adam Duvall again Jarred Kelenic they held the corners of the field in Acuna's absence this afternoon, although the club may have turned Forrest Wall or JP Martinez to provide additional depth if Acuna needs a trip to the injured list. It's also possible that Acuna's injury forced the Braves to make a decision about Riley's injury, as the club has been out for two weeks and the club may not be able to compensate for the lack of production without Acuna's hit. in the list.
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