Atlanta Braves Share Disappointing Ronald Acuña Jr. Injury Update

The Atlanta Braves have spent most of this season looking like the best team in baseball, but Tuesday night in Chicago gave them two reasons to wince.

Braden Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning of his major league debut to lift the White Sox to a 6-5 win at Rate Field, and well before that, Ronald Acuña Jr. limped off the field with tightness in his left hamstring.

The star right fielder pulled up while trying to beat out a grounder in the fourth inning, and his frustration was obvious as he slammed his helmet once he reached the dugout.

It is the same hamstring that sent Acuña to the injured list from May 3 to May 18, and the early read from manager Walt Weiss was more encouraging this time around.

"It doesn't seem as bad as the last one," Weiss said after the game. "So we're not [putting him on the IL] right now. He's day-to-day and is going to get an MRI. Then we'll go from there, but it's not terrible."

Acuña backed that up himself, telling reporters after the loss that he felt no real pain and only a little tightness. Unfortunately, Wednesday's MRI was more telling, as Acuña will be hitting the injured list.

Eli White took his spot in right field on Tuesday, and Atlanta will probably lean on him again while Acuña is sidelined.

"Atlanta today also placed OF Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and selected INF Rowdy Tellez to the major league roster," the team announced. "To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated RHP Jhancarlos Lara for assignment."

For Atlanta, beyond another IL stint, the concern here is less about this specific tweak and more about the pattern.

Acuña tore his right ACL in 2021 and his left ACL in 2024, both injuries ended his season, and he has not played a full year since his MVP run in 2023, when he hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases to become the first 40/70 player in league history.

This season alone he has dealt with the hamstring strain, a bone bruise in his left thumb, and now another scare on the same leg.

The talent has never been the question.

He is hitting .251 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs this year, numbers well below his usual standard, though he showed signs of life with a grand slam at Fenway Park late last month.

The frustrating part for Atlanta is that the breakout always feels close right up until something tightens, bruises, or tears.

The good news is the Braves can afford some patience here.

They are 45-22 with the best record in baseball, and they built a comfortable NL East lead while Acuña sat out in May.