Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) reacts after suffering an apparent injury on a steal attempt against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. tore the ACL in his left knee on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. This is a major setback for the Atlanta Braves, who have already lost ace Spencer Strider for 2024.
Incident Leading to Injury
Acuña fell between second and third base during the first inning of the Braves’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates when his knee buckled on a delayed steal attempt. An MRI confirmed the torn left ACL, which is his second ACL injury in less than three years. He previously tore the ACL in his right knee while making a catch in the outfield.
Performance Highlights**
Acuña, 26, is one of the top players in Major League Baseball and the star of the Braves, a team that started the season as the second favorite to win the World Series. Despite losing Acuña in 2021, the Braves managed to get into the postseason with 88 wins and won their fourth championship.
Last season, Atlanta had the best record in the majors with 104 wins. Acuña was outstanding, hitting .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases. He became the first player to finish a season with at least 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases, earning him a unanimous MVP award. However, the Braves were defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the division series for the second consecutive year.
Current Season Struggles
Acuña had high expectations this season but struggled, along with many of his teammates, in the first third of the season. In 49 games, he hit .250/.351/.365 with 4 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, while his defense was below average.
Before the team announced that he would miss the season, Acuña told reporters that the injury felt less severe than the one in 2018. After the announcement, he posted a one-word message on social media, “Sorry,” with broken heart and crying emojis.
Impact on the Braves
Losing Acuña, who led off Sunday’s 8-1 win against the Pirates with a double, is a huge blow for the Braves. The team’s offense has struggled after last season’s record-setting .501 slugging percentage. While designated hitter Marcell Ozuna has been one of the best hitters in baseball, key players like Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and Michael Harris II have OPS numbers below .750.
Despite offensive issues, Atlanta’s pitching has kept the team competitive with a 30-20 record, tying for second in the NL with the Los Angeles Dodgers and trailing the 38-16 Phillies by six games in the NL East.
The Braves have had standout performances from left-hander Chris Sale, who was acquired in a trade over the winter, and free-agent signing Reynaldo Lopez, whose 1.75 ERA is the third best in the NL. Both have stepped up after Strider, who led baseball with 281 strikeouts last season, underwent Tommy John surgery in April.
Contract Negotiation and Representation Issues**
Acuña made a big impact as a 20-year-old rookie in 2018, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award with a .293/.366/.552 line and 26 home runs. Before the next season, he signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with two club options, making it one of the most team-friendly deals in the sport.
This past winter, Acuña hoped to negotiate a new extension to earn more in line with top players, but talks did not progress. Currently, Acuña does not have an agent for baseball contracts. Still, he recently signed with Rimas Sports, whose lead agent was decertified by the MLB Players Association, to handle his marketing and endorsements.
This report used information from ESPN.
