Brutal: Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr tears ACL, will miss the remainder of the season

The Atlanta Braves announced devastating news regarding Ronald Acuna Jr after he exited the team’s 8-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning.

Ronald Acuna Jr suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play in the top of the first inning.

MRI reveals complete tear of Ronald Acuna Jr ACL

OF Ronald Acuña Jr. tonight underwent an MRI that revealed a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee. He is set to undergo surgery at a date yet to be determined and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 27, 2024

Acuna started the game with a double before he was tagged out on the bases two batters later after falling to the dirt in between second and third.

Ronald Acuña Jr. has left today’s game after a non-contact injury on the basepaths

(via @BravesOnBally)
pic.twitter.com/2MEPS7U9OR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 26, 2024

I understand that Ronald Acuna Jr is on the Atlanta Braves – the biggest rival of our hometown Philadelphia Phillies but this is just horrible. The game of baseball is better when players like Acuna are playing. The fact that the reigning National League MVP is now out for the remainder of the year is just devastating news for Major League Baseball.

This is now the second time that Acuna has torn his ACL. The first came during the 2021 season, as the Braves went on to win the World Series without him. He also suffered an ACL sprain in 2018 and was optimistic postgame Sunday that would be the extent of the injury. Instead, Ronald Acuna Jr suffered his second season-ending injury of his seven-season MLB career.

Ronald Acuna Jr Past 4 Years:

2020: COVID season
2021: Torn ACL
2022: Limited by ACL recovery
2023: Wins MVP
2024: Torn ACL

It’s no secret that losing Acuna for the remainder of the season is a massive blow for the Atlanta Braves. He’s a four-time All-Star and the reigning National League MVP and led the league in runs, hits, stolen bases and on-base percentage in 2023 while slashing .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, 149 runs scored and 73 stolen bases.

In 48 games this season, Ronald Acuna Jr slashed .246/.348/.356 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

The Braves are already playing without starting pitcher Spencer Strider for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. They ended Sunday’s with the third-best record in the NL at 30-20, six games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies (38-16) in the NL East.