Ronald Acuna Jr is out for the SEASON as Braves announce National League MVP suffered torn ACL against Pirates
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr is out for the season after tearing his ACL during Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced.
Braves fans held their collective breath after watching the star right fielder and reigning National League MVP hobble off the field after an apparent non-contact injury to his left knee.
Acuna took a lead from second base in Pittsburgh against the Pirates when he tried to quickly return to the bag, but he crumbled to the infield dirt while holding his leg.
Officially, the Braves said Acuna left Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh due to “left knee soreness.” Left fielder Adam Duvall moved to right field in the second inning to replace Acuna, while Jarred Kelenic replaced in left.
Acuna went down with a non-contact injury on Sunday in Pittsburgh while sticking with Hi
And later on Sunday night, Atlanta confirmed the worst after announcing that their star man tore his anterior cruciate ligament, bringing his season to an abrupt end.
‘FROM Ronald Acuña Jr. underwent an MRI this evening which revealed that the ACL in his left knee was completely torn,” they wrote. “He will undergo surgery at a date to be determined and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.”
The 26-year-old Venezuelan previously suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2021, which forced him to miss the second half of the season.
Acuna started the game with a double against Pittsburgh’s Martin Perez amid an uncharacteristically slow start for the four-time All-Star. He is hitting just .246 with just four home runs this year.
A year ago, Acuna hit .337 with an 8.1 WAR (wins above replacement), the latter of which was behind only Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
It’s also been a tough year for Acuna in the field, where he recently dropped an easy ball in Atlanta’s May 20 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Acuna tied the game as Padres star Manny Machado drove an easy pop-up into the outfield.
He seemed to read the ball well, but simply dropped it, much to the shock of the commentators and those in attendance.
The 26-year-old Acuna, born in Venezuela, is considered one of the most feared hitters in the MLB
Fans then condemned Acuna for not converting the easy out.
“Did Acuna just forget how to play baseball?” said one MLB fan on social media.
‘Never hold your glove over your eyes when you catch a fly. I learned that in little league,” said another fan.
“Bro is so washed,” someone said of Acuna with a skull emoji.
“Dude looks like he completely stopped offseason training after MVP,” said another baseball fan on X.
“Even the best fail at the simplest things,” one baseball fan concluded.