The Atlanta Braves entered Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals looking to improve their 15-7 record and extend their lead in the National League East.
Atlanta has been one of MLB’s best teams throughout April, but one player who has not performed to expectations is right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.
The 28-year-old superstar has posted a .247 batting average, .360 on-base percentage, .715 OPS, one home run and five RBIs through his first 22 games.
When fully healthy, Acuna is an NL MVP candidate. He won the award in 2023 after becoming the first player in history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in a single season, but he has not been that player so far this season.
Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Acuna is still working his way back from his second ACL tear since that MVP year, this time in his left knee, and his athleticism has understandably declined.
Even so, he has historically been a far better hitter than his early numbers show, and if he heats up, the Braves could quickly become the team to beat.
However, Monday brought another injury scare. Acuna was hit by a pitch twice in the contest, with the second incident prompting an early exit. He was drilled in the top of the fourth inning and then again in the top of the sixth.
Atlanta batted around in the sixth, and Acuna was on deck in the batting circle for his fourth at-bat, but when the Braves took the field for the bottom half of the inning, he had been replaced by backup outfielder Eli White.
With concern mounting, the Braves announced a positive update on the five-time All-Star’s status. “OF Ronald Acuna Jr. was removed from tonight’s game after being hit by a pitch. X-rays were negative and he is day-to-day,” the team wrote on X.
After the game, another update emerged from MLB.com's Mark Bowman, who reported that there are no plans for Acuna to have an MRI on his right hand. There was speculation that Acuna may have been hit in retaliation after Braves starter Bryce Elder nailed Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams earlier in the game
Regardless of any brewing tension, Atlanta is simply relieved that the X-rays came back clean. Acuna has already spent significant time on the injured list throughout his nine-year career, so avoiding another major setback is the biggest storyline.
Acuna’s next chance to return to the lineup will come Tuesday in Game 2 of the three-game set.
