Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. out for season with torn ACL
Ronald Acuña Jr. had to be carted off from Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins with a serious-looking leg injury. The news after the game wasn't good.
The Atlanta Braves announced after the game that an MRI revealed Acuña had completely torn his ACL and will have to undergo season-ending surgery.
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. underwent an MRI today that showed a complete tear of his right ACL. He will undergo season-ending surgery.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 11, 2021
The Braves star landed awkwardly on the warning track while trying to catch a fly ball from Jazz Chisholm Jr., and never got up. Chisholm rounded the bases for an inside-the-park homer while Acuña remained on the ground.
Ronald Acuña Jr. exits the game after injuring his knee going for an outfield catch. #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/9HNIKaK11t
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 10, 2021
After a lengthy visit from Braves trainers, Acuña was carted off while in visible pain.
Ronald Acuña Jr. has to be carted off the field after suffering an injury to his right knee or leg. pic.twitter.com/mXrjIBAs6V
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 10, 2021
The Braves eventually replaced Acuña with Abraham Almonte in right field and would go on to win 5-4, but that wasn't what was on everybody's minds.
Braves manager Brian Snitker didn't have much of an update for reporters after the game, per The Athletic's David O'Brien. The awful news would come hours later.
A massive loss for the Braves and MLB
Any serious injury to Acuña is a serious loss for not just the Braves, but all of baseball.
The outfielder entered Saturday hitting .281/.392/.593 with 24 home runs, third most in the National League. He also has 16 steals and a league-leading 72 runs. Since his debut in 2018, Acuña has been one of the most electric players in baseball and embodied what the sport could look like in just a few years.
The Braves currently sit at 44-44 and four games back from the New York Mets for first place in the NL East, but the odds of capturing the division crown have obviously nosedived.
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