Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. collapsed on the field with a non-contact knee injury and left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Acuña was injured while leading off the basepath from second base. He fell to the turf in obvious pain and clutched his left leg. He lay on the ground for a while while being treated by trainers. He was eventually able to walk off the field but did not return to the game.
The Braves said he suffered a left knee injury shortly after leaving the game, though no further details about the injury were immediately released.
Acuña, 26, is a four-time All-Star and the reigning NL MVP. In 2023, he led the league in runs, hits, stolen bases and on-base percentage with a .337/.416/.596 batting average, 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, 149 runs and 73 stolen bases. This season, he has played in 48 games with a .246/.348/.356 batting average, 4 home runs, 15 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
Acuna tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2021 and missed the second half of the season with that injury.
Sunday’s injury occurred in the top of the first inning of a scoreless game. Acuña reached base on a leadoff double and was injured while attempting to steal third base. The Braves entered Sunday’s game with a 29-20 record, third in the National League and seven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (38-15) for the NL East lead.
If Acuna’s injury is serious, it would mark the second season-changing injury for the Braves, who are seeking their second World Series championship in four seasons. All-Star starting pitcher Spencer Strider appeared in just two games this season before undergoing internal brace surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Strider finished fourth in last year’s Cy Young Award voting and was one of the preseason favorites to win the award this year.
