NEW YORK – Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. exited the second game of Monday’s doubleheader after Mets starter Tylor Megill hit him in the left shoulder with a fastball.
The Braves said Acuña suffered a left shoulder contusion from the 93 mph fastball. After the doubleheader, Braves manager Brian Snitker said Acuña was at the hospital undergoing imaging on his shoulder. His X-rays, done at Citi Field, had returned negative, but the team wanted to evaluate him further just to ensure everything was OK. And the further imaging also revealed that there is no fracture. Acuña is day to day.
After the ball struck him, Acuña was in immediate pain. He crumpled over near the batter’s box before Snitker and an athletic trainer went out to evaluate Acuña.
Snitker said there was some concern in that moment.
“Yeah, always, when a guy gets hit,” he said. “A little bit.”
Acuña continued kneeling on the ground as the Braves checked him out. Eventually, he left the game.
“That sucks,” teammate Sean Murphy said. “There’s not much you can do for him. You just gotta go keep having your at-bats and try to win the game. It sucks. Hope he’s good, hope he comes back in short order and we’ll see him soon, I hope.”
The Braves eventually lost the game 5-3. They took two of three in New York, and they hope they don’t lose one of their stars for any amount of time.
Snitker said Acuña will still go with the team to Miami. When reporters talked to the manager, he said the Braves would know more when Acuña’s imaging came back.
Kevin Pillar pinch-ran for Acuña and replaced him in right field.
Through 28 games this season, Acuña is batting .363 with a 1.030 OPS. He leads the majors with 13 stolen bases.
In the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, Acuña showcased his power when he launched a solo shot to the third deck in left field at Citi Field in the Braves’ 9-8 victory.
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