Ronald Acuña Jr. went down at the worst possible time for the Braves.
Atlanta’s former MVP left Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning after fouling a ball off his left leg. He dropped to the ground immediately, then crawled over to the grass down the first base line and spent more than a minute with the team trainer and manager Walt Weiss. He was eventually able to get to his feet and walk off under his own power.
Brewer Hicklen took his place in the game.
The timing is brutal for Atlanta, which is still battling for a first-round bye in the postseason. If Acuña has to miss significant time, the Braves could be forced into the Wild Card round without one of their biggest bats.
There’s also the concern that comes with Acuña’s recent injury history. He has already dealt with two leg injuries this season, and he missed time in 2025 with Achilles inflammation after coming back from a long-term knee injury.
Atlanta will be hoping this latest issue is minor, because even in what has been a down year by his standards, Acuña remains a major piece of the lineup.
He got off to a slow start, but his season line is still respectable with one week left to play. Acuña has 20 homers, 55 RBIs and a .814 OPS in 104 games, which is the most he has played in a season since his historic 40/70 campaign in 2023.
That .814 OPS trails his .934 mark from last year, but the year has still had some real swings. He posted a .724 OPS through April, then landed on the IL with a hamstring strain at the start of May. After returning, he caught fire in May with a 1.056 OPS, only to cool off again over the next few months and hit below league average in June, July and August.
September brought the sharpest version of Acuña back. He homered seven times, drove in 19 runs and put up a 1.087 OPS during the month.
Now the Braves are left waiting, hoping the injury is nothing more than a painful scare as they get ready for a Wild Card series against one of three incredibly talented teams.
In Other News...
Ronald Acua Jr. Just Put Atlantas Playoff Hopes On Edge
Ronald Acua Jr. had been giving Atlanta exactly the kind of September spark the Braves hoped for after he missed significant time earlier in the season with injuries. His strong stretch helped steady a club that is trying to get itself in order for the playoffs, where every healthy bat and every electric presence matters a little more.
Now the Braves are waiting again after Acua had to leave a game when he fouled a ball off his leg, and there has not yet been an update on how serious it is. For a team already balancing October preparation with the need to keep its best players on the field, his availability has suddenly become one of the most important questions hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Playoff Roster Could Include Some Very Unexpected Names
With the Braves already locked into the postseason, the next roster conversation has turned from who is available to who might be useful in October. That has opened the door to a few names that would have seemed far-fetched a few months ago, including players who have yet to appear in a regular-season game for Atlanta this year. Some are working back from injuries, others bring minor league experience, and the front office is weighing every angle as the playoff picture sharpens.
Joe Jimnez, Chuckie Robinson, Maverick Handley, Patrick Clohisy and Tyler Uberstine are all part of that unusual mix of possibilities. Their cases underscore how flexible postseason roster construction can become when health and matchups are in play, and how quickly a team can look beyond the familiar depth chart once October arrives. The Braves still have decisions to make, and the final group could include at least one unexpected addition. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Waste An Encouraging JR Ritchie Night Amid Acua Scare
JR Ritchie gave the Braves a reason to feel better about one corner of the night, even as the scoreboard told a different story in a 4-0 loss to the Reds. The young right-hander worked five sharp innings, struck out eight and kept his underlying numbers in encouraging territory, the kind of outing that can still matter for a club trying to piece together stability on the mound.
What made the loss sting more was the sight of Ronald Acua Jr. exiting after fouling a ball off his lower leg, a reminder of how fragile the margins can be in September. Atlanta never found much offense to back Ritchie, and the bigger concern now is whether Acuas discomfort amounts to anything beyond a cautious departure, especially with every game carrying extra weight. [Read more 🡒]