Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Sunday’s 8-1 win at Pittsburgh and will miss the rest of the season.
The reigning NL MVP led off the game with a double to right-center from Martin Perez. With Marcell Ozuna at the plate, Acuna launched toward third on a stolen base attempt and his left knee gave out. Acuna was down for several minutes during treatment, pointing to his left leg before walking under his own power.
Braves’ initial diagnosis was a sore left knee. But the team announced Sunday night that an MRI showed a complete ACL tear that would require offseason surgery.
Acuna tore his right ACL on July 20, 2021. The 26-year-old outfielder, who wore a brace in the clubhouse after Sunday’s win, said the injury was minor.
“(I) didn’t feel that pain, no pop or anything. … Don’t think it’s too bad,” Acuna said.
Acuna said he wanted to take third when he expected a slow throw to the mound from catcher Joey Bart. The toss came harder than expected, with a sudden pivot twisting his knee leading to second again.
Acuña is batting .250 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 49 games. The four-time All-Star hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers and 106 RBIs last season.
Atlanta is already missing All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider, whose season ended April 13 when he underwent internal brace surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. Third baseman Austin Riley is day-to-day with a left intercostal strain, and catcher Sean Murphy is on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury after being hurt on the first day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
