MIAMI — Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will have season-ending surgery to repair a completely torn ACL in his right knee after he was injured during Atlanta’s 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
An MRI exam showed the severity of the injury and the Braves made the announcement shortly before midnight that their three-time All-Star will be out until at least next year.
Acuña landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping on the warning track in right field to try to catch a drive from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old slammed into the outfield wall and crumbled on the warning track, immediately grabbing his right knee while Chisholm sprinted out an inside-the-park homer.
The 23-year-old Acuña did not put any weight on his right leg and had to be helped to a cart before being taken from the field.
Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer and an RBI single, while Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley ripped doubles as the first three Braves reached base off All-Star pitcher Trevor Rogers (7-6) in the fourth inning. Atlanta has won three straight over Miami.
Max Fried (6-5) gave up three consecutive hits after Acuña was injured. He went five innings with five strikeouts and allowed nine hits.
Acuña was slated to start in the outfield for the NL All-Star team in Tuesday’s game, his third appearance. The 23-year-old is hitting .283 with 24 home runs and 52 RBIs for the three-time defending NL East champions, who started the day in second place behind the Mets.
