The Braves placed starting left fielder and No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuna on the 10-day disabled list Monday after an MRI test showed a sprain and contusions to his back and left knee.
Acuna left Sunday’s game against the Red Sox in the seventh inning after he appeared to hyperextend his left knee running through first base. He was taken to a Boston hospital for evaluation.
“I just give thanks to God that it wasn’t worse than it was,” Acuna said through an interpreter Monday. “When it first happened, I thought it was going to be a little while. My leg was hurting, and right after that I felt a little dizzy, nauseous. When I was able to regain my wits, I was able to get up and walk off on my own power.”
The Braves announced Acuna’s injury as “knee and lower-back pain” following Sunday’s game. The severity was unknown, but Acuna and the team were encouraged that he walked off the field.
His MRI results showed a left-knee mild ACL sprain, a left knee contusion and lower back contusion, the team announced during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets Monday at SunTrust Park.
“I’m not as worried about my back,” Acuna said. “It feels sore, but I’m not worried about it. I know the pain’s going to go away, so I’m good.”
It was likely the best news the Braves could’ve hoped for regarding their prized outfielder. They’ll re-evaluate him after the 10-day period, but he could return to action as soon as June 8 in Los Angeles.
Acuna was walking around without any issues on Monday morning, manager Brian Snitker said. The team took a cautious approach and placed him on the disabled list.
“The kid plays full-out,” Snitker said. “His legs are a big part of his game. So we’ll just make sure he’s really good before we get him back out there.”
Preston Tucker, who manned left field before Acuna was promoted April 25, started in his place Monday The team called up outfielder Dustin Peterson on Monday to fill Acuna's roster spot.
Snitker and Acuna feared it was an injury similar to Bryce Harper’s a season ago, when the Nationals All-Star hyperextended his left knee running to first and missed 42 games.
Snitker added he thought he’d lost his rising star for the year when Acuna took the tumble.
“I thought his season was over when it happened, when I went out there,” Snitker said. “Now it’s very optimistic.”
Acuna burst onto the scene upon his callup, homering in his second game and helping the Braves to a 7-1 record in his first eight games, all on the road.
The 20-year-old hit .382 in that span with a 1.138 OPS. But as he’s come more acclimated with the majors, the majors have become more acclimated with him.
Acuna hit .187 in 19 games before a three-hit Saturday. He was 1-for-3 with a walk before exiting Sunday’s contest.
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