Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will be sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The injury occurred as Acuña attempted to steal third base in the first inning after hitting a leadoff double.
Initially thought to be left knee soreness, an MRI later revealed a complete ACL tear, necessitating season-ending surgery for the 26-year-old outfielder. Acuña, the reigning National League MVP, had previously torn his right ACL in July 2021 but expressed that this injury felt less severe.
Acuña, who is batting .250 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 49 games this season, had a standout year in 2021 with a .337 batting average, 41 home runs, and 106 RBIs. His absence adds to the Braves' injury woes, with All-Star pitcher Spencer Strider already out for the season due to elbow surgery and third baseman Austin Riley and catcher Sean Murphy dealing with day-to-day and 10-day injuries, respectively.
Braves manager Brian Snitker expressed his disappointment over Acuña's injury, emphasizing the impact on the players who love the game. Despite the setbacks, Snitker remains optimistic about the team's ability to navigate through the challenges.
Acuña's absence will be deeply felt by the Braves as they strive to maintain their competitive edge in the National League. The team will need to rely on its depth and resilience to overcome the loss of one of their key players for the remainder of the season.
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