Braves announce Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss remainder of season with torn ACL

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning after suffering a non-contact left knee injury while running on base.

After the game, the reigning National League MVP expressed optimism that he had avoided a torn ACL, but after undergoing an MRI on the injured knee, it appears he didn’t have as much luck.

The Braves announced Sunday night that Acuña had in fact suffered a complete torn ACL in his left knee and would require surgery. The procedure will keep the 26-year-old out for the rest of the season, which is a major blow for Atlanta.

The team has not yet set a date for Acuña’s season-ending surgery, but it will be without the four-time All-Star and reigning NL MVP for the rest of the year.

Acuña took to social media to express his disappointment after learning the results of his MRI, clearly discouraged at being out for the rest of the year. “Sorry,” he wrote on X, alongside a broken heart emoji.

This isn’t the first time Acuña has suffered a torn ACL. In 2021, the outfielder tore the ACL in his right knee. He told reporters after Sunday’s game that he didn’t feel any noise in his knee, making him believe he had avoided the same injury. He further compared the current illness to the ACL sprain he suffered in 2018, although the MRI results indicated otherwise.

Through 49 games this season, Acuña has four home runs, 15 RBIs and 16 stolen bases while recording an OPS of .704.