ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves placed outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list on Monday after the reigning NL MVP suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Acuña was injured in the Braves’ 8-1 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. After opening the game with a double, Acuña went to third on a stolen base attempt. His left knee gave way as he stopped trying to return to second base.
Atlanta announced Sunday night that an MRI showed a complete ACL tear that will require surgery.
Acuña tore his right anterior cruciate ligament on July 20, 2021. He returned on April 28, 2022, after missing Atlanta’s first 19 games of the season.
Atlanta lost two key 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 internal surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
Acuña’s injury came as the Braves were expecting two starters to return to the lineup.
Third baseman Austin Riley and catcher Sean Murphy started Monday’s game against Washington. Riley missed two weeks with tightness in his left side and Murphy had been sidelined with a strained left oblique since March 30.
“There are very few players in this league that are at his level,” Riley said. “It’s a joy to watch him every night and see that happen, you feel for him.”
Riley said he and other key players “are going to have to step up and do everything we can. He will definitely be missed.”
The Braves have won six consecutive NL East titles and won the 2021 World Series while Acuña recovered from his first season-ending injury. The Braves entered Monday’s games in second place in the division, six games behind Philadelphia.
“We have over 100 games left and we are 10 games over .500,” Murphy said. “We are still in a great situation. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with the Atlanta Braves.”
Still, Murphy added, “I don’t think there’s anyone else in the big leagues who can just step in 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 have been splitting time in left field, 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. “It’s part of it. You try to see that now let’s give someone a chance to do something special in your absence. … Jared is going to get some regular 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 that he has to go through this again.”
Acuña was named NL MVP last season after hitting .337 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and 73 stolen bases, becoming the first player to have at least 40 home runs and 70 steals in a season. The 26-year-old Venezuelan was hitting .250 with four homers, 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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