Ronald Acuna Jr. injury update: Braves OF out for season with torn left ACL

The Braves have already got off to a slow start to the 2024 season by their lofty standards. They'll have to go the remainder of the season without the reigning NL MVP.

Ronald Acuna Jr. left Sunday's game in the first inning with a non-contact injury, clutching at his left leg while running the bases. Acuna will reportedly miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.

Acuna suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on July 10, 2021, and missed the remainder of the season, which included a World Series win by the Braves. In response to his torn ACL, Atlanta acquired Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario at the trade deadline, all of whom played a crucial role in the postseason in helping the Braves win the World Series.

MORE: Could Red Sox trade Kenley Jansen?

Here's the latest on Acuna's injury.

Ronald Acuna Jr. injury update

An MRI revealed a complete tear of the ACL in Acuna's left knee, according to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

BREAKING: Ronald Acuña Jr. had an MRI that revealed a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee. He's set to undergo season-ending surgery.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) May 27, 2024

Acuna had to be taken out of Sunday's game against the Pirates with an apparent injury to his left leg. 

The 2023 NL MVP clutched at his left knee after his leg appeared to buckle while pivoting from running to third base to return to second. He was tagged out by pitcher Martin Perez before exiting the game. On Acuna's walk back to the dugout, he was forced to stop multiple times.

Ronald Acuña Jr. exits the game due to a non-contact injury on the bases. pic.twitter.com/RHZCJ9ldBe

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 26, 2024

The Braves announced he left the game with "left knee soreness." 

After the game, Acuna was wearing a knee brace. He told reporters he would get an MRI and expects to be placed on the 10-day IL and remained optimistic.

"I got scared a lot because I felt the pain in the beginning," Acuna said through a translator, per ESPN. "Hopefully, everything is going to go well."

Braves OF depth chart

• LF: Jarred Kelenic, Adam Duvall, Luke Williams*, Forrest Wall*, J.P. Martinez*
• CF: Michael Harris II, Adam Duvall, Forrest Wall*
• RF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Adam Duvall, Jarred Kelenic Forrest Wall*, J.P. Martinez*

* - Player in Triple-A

Duvall and Jarred Kelenic have split time in left field as a platoon pairing. Duvall has a .208/.311/.351 slash line with three home runs this season, while Kelenic, acquired from the Mariners in an offseason trade, has slashed .248/.292/.372 with three home runs. Harris is locked in as the team's starting center fielder.

With Acuna out for the season, it would appear Kelenic and Duvall might each handle starting posts in the outfield. The Braves might opt to promote one of Forrest Wall, Luke Williams or J.P. Martinez. 

Wall has one plate appearance this season, while Williams has four. Neither have a hit. Martinez has not reached the big leagues this season. Wall, a former top prospect with the Rockies, has posted a .308/.422/.495 slash at Gwinnett with four homers and six stolen bases in 128 plate appearances this season. He logged 15 plate appearances with Atlanta in 2023.

Williams has posted a .267/.318/.467 slash with three homers and five steals in 66 plate appearances at Gwinnett this season. He offers positional versatility with the ability to play third or corner outfield spots.

Martinez, 28, was traded to the Braves in the offseason from the Rangers after he debuted with Texas in 2023. In 44 big league plate appearances, he slashed .225/.250/.325 with a home run. This year at Triple-A, he has a .271/.344/.404 slash with three homers and 14 steals.

Ronald Acuna Jr. stats

It has been a slow start to the 2024 season for the Braves, who are second in the NL East at 29-20, seven games behind the division-leading Phillies. Much like his team, Acuna has also gotten off to an uncharacteristic start.

In his MVP campaign, Acuna hit four home runs and stole 73 bases with a 10.9 percent walk rate and 11.4 percent strikeout rate to accompany a .337/.416/.596 slash line. This year, Acuna is slashing only .246/.348/.356 with four home runs and 16 stolen bases. His walk rate is up to 12.2 percent, but his strikeout rate has sky-rocketed to 24 percent, just 2.1 percent off his career strikeout rate of 22.1 percent.