Ronald Acuña Jr. placed on IL with Achilles inflammation, could reportedly be back within 2-3 weeks
The Braves announced his diagnosis shortly after his exit on Tuesday. After the game, manager Brian Snitker confirmed to reporters that Acuña would be placed on the 10-day injured list. He was seen in a walking boot after the game.
Per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, an MRI revealed a Grade 1 calf strain for the outfielder, a diagnosis mild enough that he could be back within 2-3 weeks.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
Acuña left the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino hit a fly ball to deep right-center field that Acuña couldn't reach. It bounced off the warning track and over the fence for a ground-rule RBI double that extended Kansas City's lead to 9-3.
Acuña jogged from his spot in the outfield, then left to the Braves clubhouse with a trainer.
The Royals held on for a 9-6 victory.
Per multiple reports from the game, Acuña showed signs of discomfort prior to the play that preceded his exit. After the game, he said through an interpreter that he sustained the injury while running from first to home on a play the previous night, while wiping tears from his eyes multiple times:
"I think it definitely got worse today. I told them yesterday and everyone said, 'Hey, take the day if you want it. You can take the day off,' but I've just missed so much time through injuries I don't want to miss any more time.
"I was out there hoping they wouldn't hit it my way and of course when you do that, they always hit it your way."
The injury is the latest in a stellar career that has been plagued by leg injuries. Acuña has sustained ACL tears in each of his knees — the right in 2021 and the left in 2024. In between, he won the 2023 MVP Award while leading the National League in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage.
Injuries have limited Acuña to 82 games or fewer in three of his seven MLB seasons. He missed the first 49 games of this season while recovering from the ACL tear sustained last year.
Despite the injuries, Acuña has been named an All-Star in five of his seven MLB seasons as one of the most versatile and gifted offensive players in baseball. He was also named Rookie of the Year in one of the two years he wasn't an All-Star.
Acuña and the Braves are certainly hoping this latest setback won't require an extended stay on the injured list. With the 45-61 Braves 12.5 games out of the wild-card race as of the conclusion of Tuesday's game, there should be little motivation for the team to rush him back.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top of the Morning: Red Sox beat sloppy Astros 6-1 behind Lucas Giolito's stellar start
BOSTON (AP) — Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela had consecutive RBI singles in a six-run fourth inning filled with five Houston mistakes, Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight stellar innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Astros 6-1 on Sunday to complete a series sweep. Connor Wong added a sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu was credited with a sacrifice on a safety squeeze for an RBI during the inning, sending Boston to its third straight win over the AL West leaders and fifth in a row overall. Giolito (8-2) gave up the run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk, eclipsing his previous season-high innings of 7 2/3 on July 4. Carlos Correa, acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline, hit a homer for Houston, which has lost eight of 10. The game's first pitch was 11:38 a.m. EDT, the third time this season the Red Sox began a game in the morning. The others: their annual Patriots' Day game when they beat the White Sox and the Independence Day victory at the Nationals. Framber Valdez (11-5) gave up six runs, four earned, over six innings, ending his personal 10-game winning streak. He entered 10-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his previous 14 starts. Key moment During the fourth, Houston missed a cutoff on Story's run-scoring single, Valdez had a wild pitch, balked home a run and had Abreu's bunt go under his glove for an error. Yainer Diaz had a passed ball. Key stat Valdez hadn't allowed three runs in an inning since May 19. Up next Astros: RHP Jason Alexander (1-1, 7.36 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series at the Marlins on Monday. Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19) is set to start the first of three against the Royals on Monday. ___ AP MLB: ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Red Sox have won five consecutive games, not four. Ken Powtak, The Associated Press
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Parker Brailsford
As we enter the 2025 college football season, there are likely few offensive lineman nationally better at what they do than Alabama Crimson Tide center Parker Brailsford. A returning starter along Alabama's offensive line, Brailsford is back for year two in Tuscaloosa this fall, entering the campaign as one of the top centers in all of college football. One of the players who followed Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington, Brailsford also returns to Alabama after turning down the NFL draft this past offseason, and as a result, is likely now set for an even better 2025 campaign compared to what was already a strong season a year ago. Here is everything you need to know about star Alabama center Parker Brailsford entering the 2025 season. Parker Brailsford player information Position: Offensive Line Jersey Number: No. 72 Height: 6'2 Weight: 290 Class: Redshirt Junior Hometown: Mesa, Arizona High School: Saguaro Parker Brailsford career stats Brailsford is certainly not an unfamiliar face to college football, entering his fourth season this fall between his time at both Alabama and Washington. Across his prior three seasons, Brailsford has appeared in a combined 28 games, each of which he has started, receiving multiple honors along the way. Parker Brailsford 2024 stats Brailsford's 2024 season was his first at Alabama after transferring from Washington. A year ago, Brailsford started all 13 games for Alabama at center. Parker Brailsford recruiting ranking Coming out of high school, Brailsford was considered as the nation's No. 522 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Saguaro High School in Arizona, where he was also ranked the state's No. 8 player. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Brailsford, a three-star prospect, was also considered the nation's No. 23 overall interior offensive lineman in the class prior to attending Washington. Before coming to Alabama, Brailsford was considered by 247Sports as the No. 22 overall prospect in the transfer portal last offseason, as well as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman. Rated as a four-star prospect, Brailsford also committed to Alabama in Jan. 2024. Parker Brailsford 2025 season outlook As we enter the fall, Brailsford's role for Alabama in 2025 is a given. The redshirt junior is cemented as Alabama's starting center entering the season, and barring injury, will remain in that spot throughout the year. Brailsford will help anchor what should be a strong Alabama offensive front, and will likely see multiple accolades this season, one of which could be All-SEC honors. Overall, expect a phenomenal redshirt junior season for Brailsford in which he is one of, if not, the best center in all of college football. Parker Brailsford 2025 season prediction 2025 Prediction: Starts all 13 games, All-SEC honors Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football 2025 preview, predictions: Parker Brailsford
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sabrina Ionescu drops season-high 36 points in Emma Meesseman's debut as Liberty beat Sun to snap 4-game losing streak
Emma Meesseman was rusty to start on Sunday in her first WNBA game since 2022. But it didn't matter for the New York Liberty, who rolled to an 87-78 win over the Connecticut Sun to snap a four-game losing streak. Sabrina Ionescu paced the win with a sizzling effort that produced 16 points in the first quarter and 20 by the break. She finished with a season-high 36 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for her fifth 30-plus point game of the season. Jonquel Jones added 21 points, nine rebounds four assists and two steals. The Liberty played a fourth-straight game without injured All-Star Breanna Stewart. Meesseman starts slow, finds pace after halftime The focus Sunday started on two-time All-Star and former Finals MVP Emma Meesseman, who played in her first WNBA game since 2022. Meesseman had since played overseas before signing with the Liberty on July 21, a transaction that further bolstered a star-laden roster seeking to secure the team's second straight WNBA championship. Meesseman sat New York's first six games since joining the team as the Liberty stumbled to a 2-4 start out of the All-Star break. But she was in the starting lineup Sunday as New York looked to snap its skid against a five-win Sun team with the worst record in the league. The Liberty immediately got Meesseman involved with a look inside on their first possession. But she missed a layup on the game's first field-goal attempt, then missed a floater in the lane moments later en route to a scoreless first half without another field-goal attempt. But Meesseman found her rhythm after halftime with an and-1 layup and made free throw for her first WNBA points since 2022 that extended New York's lead to 52-43. She finished with 11 points and three assists while shooting 3 of 7 from the field in 17 minutes. It added up to an encouraging start to her Liberty career as New York looks to re-establish itself as a championship favorite. This story will be updated.
