Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. underwent an MRI exam on Sunday after sustaining a left knee injury during the first inning of Sunday’s game against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
Acuna told reporters after the 8-1 victory that he expects to go on the 10-day injured list, but doesn’t think he tore the ACL. Acuna tore the ACL in his right knee on July 10, 2021 and returned 9 1/2 months later early in the 2022 season.
Acuna, the reigning National League MVP, led off the game with a double to right-center field off Pirates left-hander Martin Perez.
Acuna made a move toward third base with Marcell Ozuna at bat and fell awkwardly to the ground. He remained on the ground for several minutes before slowly limping off the field.
“I saw the catcher throwing the ball back to the pitcher very slow,” Acuna said through an interpreter. “I was timing that so I could steal third. But in that moment, he threw it hard. So I had to come back, and that’s when I felt it.”
Jarred Kelenic replaced Acuna in the Atlanta lineup.
Braves manager Brian Snitker is worried about Acuna, but wants to see the results of the tests before forecasting how long the club might be without Acuna.
“I don’t know how bad it is until we get it looked at,” Snitker said. “It’s very concerning. When he went down like that, you think the worst. But I don’t know until they get him looked at.”
Acuna sprained his left ACL in May 2018 and was sidelined for just more than a month.
Entering Sunday’s game, Acuna was batting .246 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 48 games this season. He tweaked his right knee during a rundown in spring training.
The first player in MLB history to accomplish a 40-home run, 70-steal season, Acuna is a career .289 hitter with 165 homers and 417 RBIs in 722 games. He’s a four-time All-Star and was the unanimous NL MVP in 2023.
