Atlanta Braves outfielder and reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to miss the rest of the MLB season after suffering a torn ACL the team announced Sunday evening. Acuña sustained a left knee injury in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates just as he attempted to steal third base.
Ronald Acuña Jr. has left today’s game after a non-contact injury on the basepaths
(via @BravesOnBally)
pic.twitter.com/2MEPS7U9OR— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 26, 2024
He immediately went down in pain but eventually limped off the field. Acuña was initially optimistic that the injury wasn't too serious because he didn't hear a pop, but felt pain when he went down.
“I was timing that so I could steal third," Acuña told reporters after the game through an interpreter. "But in that moment, he threw it hard. So I had to come back, and that’s when I felt it.”
Unfortunately, his MRI revealed the worst possible outcome for a player who had this same injury just three years ago. Acuña also suffered a torn ACL in his right knee midway through the 2021 season before the Braves went on a run to win the World Series that year.
The Braves have the third-best record in the NL and have a five-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the wild card race as of Monday morning. They have played a relatively tough schedule to this point in the season, but have the easiest strength of schedule, according to FanGraphs.
While the injury is devastating, the Braves are still considered a contender in terms of their odds to win the World Series. Before Acuña's injury, the Braves were listed at +450 to win the World Series at BetMGM behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (+300) and ahead of the New YorkYankees (+550). After the injury news, the Braves moved to +525 to win the World Series.
