PITTSBURGH, PA: Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. left yesterday’s game against the Pirates in the first inning, reportedly hurt while jogging. He hobbled off the field and pointed to his left knee.
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. tonight underwent an MRI that revealed a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee. He is set to undergo surgery at a date yet to be determined and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Acuna had already experienced a left knee ailment in his career in addition to the previously reported ACL tear in his right leg. The 2018 rookie season saw the phenom miss a month of play due to a slight sprain of his left ACL and a contusion to his left knee.
After a challenging May in which the Braves dropped to second place in the NL East, seven games behind the Phillies in the race for the division lead, an absence of almost any length for Acuna would be a huge blow.
This is especially true considering the offensive slump the team has had this season; Atlanta's hitters finished the month of May with a wRC+ of just 88, ranking them sixth out of all major league teams.
Acuna has been experiencing a severe slump. The 26-year-old's season has started pretty quietly, with 221 plate appearances during play thus far this season, and a slash line that is approximately league average at .246/.348/.356.
The star outfielder is obviously just one season removed from a historic 2023 campaign that saw him win the NL MVP award while smashing 40 home runs, swiping 70 stolen bases, and leading the major leagues with a .416 on-base percentage. There's no denying Acuna's ability to carry an offense when he's at his best.
The Braves are underperforming during the 2024 season and the loss of Acuna for any given time is going to be a huge loss. With the loss of Acuna for the remaining season, the Braves will likely be in for a very long stretch that will likely be hindered.
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