Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Injury update on Ronald Acuña Jr. is… not very good

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 8:50 AM ET

The last thing anybody wanted to see amid this wasted season was another injury to Ronald Acuña Jr., especially a serious one.

But after coming up limp on an attempt to chase down a fly ball, the Braves star outfielder exited the game and immediately went into the clubhouse with a trainer. Not long after, the team announced Acuña left with Achilles tightness, and alarm bells began ringing throughout the baseball world.

He was able to jog off under his own power, which offered some initial hope that it was nothing more than a precaution — even with the dreaded word Achilles mentioned. Unfortunately, the postgame scene told a much more grim story.

Acuña met with the media in a walking boot, visibly emotional, fighting back tears as he admitted he’s worried about what the MRI might reveal.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was in a walking boot and held back tears when talking after tonight's game in Kansas City

via @mlbbowman pic.twitter.com/D9KN194oUH

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 30, 2025

Now, all anyone can do is wait.

At this point, anything less than a torn Achilles should be considered a win — not just for the Braves, but for the entire sport. Acuña is one of the most electrifying stars in the game. He puts butts in seats in every ballpark he visits, and if this is another devastating injury — one that could keep him out for all of 2026 — he would tragically inch closer to becoming one of baseball’s greatest what-ifs.

Hopefully, that will not be the case. But if the Braves are lucky enough, they should seriously consider shutting down Ronald Acuña Jr. the rest of the way. This season is cursed, and gambling on Acuña’s future could doom the next one as well.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: