Braves slugger, reigning MVP leaves game due to knee soreness

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Braves slugger, four-time All-Star leaves game due to knee soreness

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 26, 2024 4:40 PM ET

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after apparently suffering a non-contact knee injury.

Acuna doubled to center field at the top of the first inning of a scoreless game. With designated hitter Marcell Ozuna at the plate, Acuna tried to steal third, but he collapsed and grabbed his left leg.

Acuna walked off of the field and didn't return to the game. Despite the injury to the four-time All-Star, the Braves beat the Pirates 8-1.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the game with a non-contact injury while rounding the bases.

(via @BravesOnBally) pic.twitter.com/Zk1TbcgdEk
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 26, 2024

On their X account, the Braves said Acuna exited due to left knee soreness, but they didn't provide further detail.

OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from today’s game with left knee soreness.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 26, 2024

Acuna — the reigning National League MVP — is one of baseball's best young stars. Entering this matchup, the 26-year-old had logged a .246 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, .704 OPS, four home runs and 15 RBI.

However, he's dealt with some knee issues in the past. In 2021, he tore his right ACL and missed the second half of the season.

"If significant, Acuna's is the second season-altering injury for a Braves team hoping to compete for its second World Series victory in four seasons," wrote Jason Owens of Yahoo Sports. "All-Star starter Spencer Strider pitched just two games this season before undergoing season-ending internal brace surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow."

As of Sunday, FanDuel gives Atlanta the second-best World Series odds (+500) behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Still, a healthy Acuna would help the Braves (30-20) catch up to the Philadelphia Phillies (38-15), who lead the National League East by 6.5 games.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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