Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. finished the year with a torn ACL

Unfortunately, baseball fans in Atlanta and around the world will be deprived of his talent for the remainder of the season.

Due to a minor wrist injury and the pandemic-shortened schedule, Acuña was limited to just 47 games in 2020. The following year, a torn right ACL ended his season in July. Although he was back on the field for most of 2022, he was clearly not at full strength as he continued to recover from his knee surgery.

At his best, Acuña is a game-changing talent. His 2023 MVP campaign was one of the greatest overall seasons in recent memory. Yet he hasn’t had enough opportunities to fully showcase this talent.

Acuña’s injury is a major loss to the game as a whole, but it goes without saying that the blow is the hardest for the Braves. With June fast approaching, Atlanta finds itself in an unusual position: second place in the NL East, six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Braves entered the season as heavy favorites in the division, and they might still be the better team on paper. That said, a six-game deficit almost a third of the way into the season is a considerable gap. This team can certainly make a comeback, but it’s going to be tougher without Acuña and ace Spencer Strider.

Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall, previously platooning in left field, will likely become the full-time corner outfielders. Duvall, the more experienced outfielder of the two, should take over in right field, although Kelenic’s powerful throwing arm could replace Acuña’s cannon.