Braves’ Acuña placed on IL after suffering second season-ending knee injury in 4 years

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves placed outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list Monday after the reigning National League MVP suffered a season-ending torn ACL in left knee.

Acuña was injured during the Braves’ 8-1 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. After opening the game with a double, Acuña led off to third on a stolen base attempt. His left knee gave way when he stopped trying to return to second base.

Atlanta announced Sunday night that an MRI showed a complete torn ACL that would require surgery.

Acuña tore his right ACL on July 20, 2021. He returned on April 28, 2022, after missing the first 19 games of Atlanta’s season.

Atlanta lost two top players to season-ending injuries in the first two months of the season. All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider’s season ended on April 13 when he underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

Acuña’s injury came just as the Braves were eagerly awaiting the return of two starters to their lineup.

Third baseman Austin Riley and catcher Sean Murphy started Monday’s game against Washington. Riley missed two weeks with left side tightness and Murphy was out with a strained left oblique since March 30.

“There are few players in this league who are at his level,” Riley said. “It’s a joy to watch him every night and when that happens, you feel for him.”

Riley said he and other key players “are going to have to step up and throw our weight behind it.” We will certainly miss him. »

The Braves won six straight NL East titles and won the 2021 World Series while Acuña was recovering from his first season-ending injury. The Braves entered Monday’s games ranked second in the division, six games behind Philadelphia.

“We have over 100 games left and we’re 10 games over .500,” Murphy said. “We are still in a great situation. I don’t think there’s any reason to worry about the Atlanta Braves.

Still, Murphy added, “I don’t think there’s anyone else in the big leagues who could just step up and do what Ronald does.”

Manager Brian Snitker selected second baseman Ozzie Albies as the team’s new leadoff hitter. Jared Kelenic and Adam Duvall, who split time in left field, each started against the Nationals. Duvall replaced Acuña in right field and Kelenic started in left field.

“You hate it,” Snitker said of Acuña’s injury. “That’s part of it. Try to consider that now we are going to give someone a chance to do something special in their absence. … Jared is going to have consistent at-bats. I think he’s ready to take the next step.

Snitker said, “I feel worse for the kid than I do for us because he has to go through this again.”

Acuña was voted NL MVP last season after hitting .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 stolen bases, becoming the first player to hit at least 40 homers and 70 steals in a season. The 26-year-old Venezuelan was hitting .250 with four home runs, 15 RBIs and 16 steals this season.

The Braves recalled outfielder JP Martinez from Triple-A Gwinnett and infielder Joey Wendle was designated for assignment. Martinez will be the fourth outfielder.

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