Ronald Acuña Jr. left the Dodgers series with more than a sore knee and a 4-1 loss hanging over him. He left with questions swirling around his future in Atlanta, and he didn’t hide how he feels about it.
After the Braves were knocked out of the NLDS by Los Angeles, Acuña got emotional while talking about what comes next. His message was clear.
“I want to stay here, that hasn't changed. But I can't control that,” Acuña told the media.
That sentiment landed after a rough postseason stretch for the former MVP, who was already dealing with a knee issue that flared up during the NLDS. It was enough to push him into designated hitter duty on Tuesday night.
Braves reporter Mark Bowman noted that Acuña was originally lined up to play right field before Atlanta announced a lineup change about 90 minutes before first pitch. Acuña had served as the DH 14 times during the regular season, but this was the first time he filled that role in the postseason.
The criticism came fast once the Braves’ season slipped away. Acuña was faulted for not catching fire in October, and after an ABS challenge in the first inning Tuesday, former Brave Kevin Pillar said, “It really handcuffs the rest of the lineup and your catcher,”
The frustration only deepened Wednesday night, when Acuña didn’t deliver with a runner in scoring position. Atlanta fell 4-1, and the noise around his playoff series grew louder.
Still, the bigger picture around Acuña in Atlanta has been built over a long run together. The Braves have stood with him through injuries and down stretches, and he has given the organization everything he can when healthy.
With the winter ahead and roster changes expected, there’s uncertainty around what the team will look like next. But Acuña’s hope is unchanged: he wants to be a Brave forever.
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