The Atlanta Braves’ concerns about Ronald Acuña Jr.’s knee injury came to fruition in Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The National League MVP was forced to leave Sunday’s game, but an MRI revealed he had a torn ACL, forcing him to miss the 2024 season, a blow to the playoff hopefuls.
The Braves announced the injury on Sunday, saying he will undergo surgery, “a date not yet determined, which will sideline him for the remainder of the 2024 season.”
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Atlanta Braves’ No. 13 Ronald Acuna Jr. leaves the field with a trainer after suffering an apparent injury in the first inning during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 26, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin Baer/Getty Images)
After learning of his diagnosis, Acuna took to social media to apologize to his fans.
“I’m sorry,” Acuña said, adding a broken heart and crying face emoji.
Acuña’s injury occurred in the top of the first inning of an 8-1 win while leading off from second base and attempting to steal third base, but quickly fell to the ground.
The Braves must have gasped when they saw Acuña holding his left knee after a non-contact injury, after which he got up moments later and limped off the field under his own power.
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The initial report from the Braves was that he had soreness in his left knee, but it ended up being something more serious than that.
Atlanta Braves player Ronald Acuna Jr. (number 13) warms up before the start of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 27, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Tearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Acuña had previously torn his ACL, but his first serious knee injury occurred in 2021 in his right leg while jumping while playing in the outfield.
Acuña’s absence this season leaves a glaring hole in the Braves’ lineup. The four-time All-Star has been a big factor in the Braves’ dominance in the league, leading the team to third-best record in the National League with 30-20.
Acuña entered Sunday batting .246/.348 on-base percentage/.356 slugging percentage with four home runs, 15 RBI and seven doubles in 48 games.
Atlanta Braves’ No. 13 Ronald Acuna Jr. reacts after striking out in the eighth inning during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
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Last season, Acuña led the National League in hits (217), runs (149), stolen bases (73), on-base percentage (.416) and OPS (1.012) while winning his first career MVP award.
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