Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. appears to injure leg in first inning against Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. has left the Atlanta Braves win 8-1 against Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning Sunday after his left knee buckled, and he expects to be on the 10-day injured list.

THE Reigning National League MVP started the game with a double to right center from Martín Pérez. With Marcell Ozuna at the plate, Acuña led toward third on a stolen base attempt and his left knee gave out. Acuña remained on the ground for several minutes while he was treated, pointing at his left leg before walking off under his own power. The Braves’ initial diagnosis was left knee soreness.

Wearing braces in the clubhouse, Acuña said he is scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday evening. He said he thought he would miss a similar number of games as a injury as a rookie in 2018. He was sidelined between May 27 and June 29 with an ACL sprain, a left knee bruise, and a back bruise when the knee buckled while he was was trying to beat out a hit in the field in Boston.

“I was very scared because I felt the pain at first,” Acuña said. “I hope everything goes well this time.”

Acuña tore his right ACL on July 20, 2021, a season-ending injury. The 26-year-old outfielder said the injury seemed less serious to him.

“(I) don’t feel any pain or pop or anything. … Don’t think it’s that bad,” Acuña said.

Acuña said he was looking to take third when he expected a slow return to the mound from catcher Joey Bart. The draw was harder than expected, leading to an abrupt return to second place with a twisted knee.

“I don’t know how serious it is until we look at it,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s very worrying. When he falls like that, we think the worst.

Acuña is hitting .250 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 49 games. The four-time All-Star hit a career-best .337 last season with 41 homers and 106 RBIs.

Atlanta is already missing All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider, whose season ended April 13 when he underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Third baseman Austin Riley is dealing with a day-to-day left intercostal strain and catcher Sean Murphy remains on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury suffered on Opening Day.

“It’s just something that everyone goes through,” Snitker said. “We’ve been through this before. Personally, I just hate that it affects more than just us young men. These guys love playing this game. When something happens to these guys, I hate it for the individuals more than for us, quite honestly.

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