Braves Lose Ronald Acuña Jr. to Calf Strain Ahead of Historic Speedway Classic

Ronald Acuña Jr. has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his lower right calf, an injury that will sideline the Braves’ star outfielder for at least 10 days.

Braves Lose Ronald Acuña Jr. to Calf Strain Ahead of Historic Speedway Classic

Acuña suffers Injury in Series vs. Royals

Acuña’s injury occurred Monday night when he scored from first base on Austin Riley’s double in a 10-7 win over the Kansas City Royals. He lobbied to play the following night but was limping after chasing down a Bobby Witt Jr. foul ball in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game. Acuña then raced to right-center field and was unable to catch a Vinnie Pasquantino double that bounced over the outfield wall. He had to be replaced in the outfield.

Amidst fears of a more serious Achilles injury, Acuña was placed on the 10-day injured list. The Braves recalled Jarred Kelenic from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot ahead of Saturday’s high-profile game against the Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“It happened when I scored from first to home on that play,” Acuña said through an interpreter. “They are going to examine me [Wednesday], so we’ll see how it goes.”

Wednesday’s MRI confirmed the calf strain. Braves manager Brian Snitker discussed the uncertainty about the timeline of Acuña’s return.

“Those calf muscles are funny, too. That’s a big muscle for speed guys,” Snitker said. “Hopefully, they get him treated up and we get him back sooner than later.”

What Acuña’s Injury Means For Atlanta

Acuña’s absence is a blow for Atlanta, who sits 16 games back in the NL East at 45-62 and has already been plagued by injuries to its pitching staff this season. Over the past month, Acuña had been the Braves’ top performer, leading the team in OPS (.885), home runs (5), runs (16), walks (15), and on-base percentage (.364). His season began on May 23 when he returned from an ACL tear, and he was hitting .306 with 14 home runs and 26 RBIs in 55 games.

For Acuña, it’s another frustrating setback in a career plagued by injuries. The 2023 National League MVP has previously torn both ACLs and missed stretches of time due to knee and leg issues.

“It’s an injury; I’m worried,” Acuña said Tuesday. “It’s more pain, but I feel it a lot when I try to put pressure on it.”

Braves Prepare For Speedway Classic Without Acuña

Acuña’s absence puts a damper on an upcoming historical moment for both the Braves and Major League Baseball. On Saturday, Atlanta will face the Reds in the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in the first-ever MLB game played in Tennessee. More than 85,000 tickets have already been sold, setting a new single-game MLB attendance record.

Despite the historic backdrop, the Braves will be without their franchise star.