Ronald Acuña Jr. Diagnosed with Grade 1 Calf Strain, Placed on 10-Day Injured List
The Atlanta Braves announced today that outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain in his lower right calf. The team has yet to established a timetable for his return, but the diagnosis alleviates concerns of a more severe Achilles tendon injury, which was initially feared.
The injury occurred during Monday night’s 10-7 win over the Kansas City Royals, when Acuña sprinted from first to home on a double by Austin Riley. Despite experiencing discomfort following the play, Acuña expressed his desire to play in Tuesday night’s game. Braves manager Brian Snitker approved the decision, but Acuña came up limping while attempting to chase down a fly ball in right field during the game, which the Braves ultimately lost 9-6.
“It happened when I scored from first to home on that play,” Acuña said following Tuesday’s game, speaking through an interpreter. “They are going to examine me [Wednesday], so we’ll see how it goes.”
Following further evaluation, the Braves medical staff confirmed the Grade 1 strain diagnosis. As a result, the team placed Acuña on the 10-day injured list earlier today and recalled outfielder Jarred Kelenic from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot.
Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP, has had a career marked by both All-World performances and unfortunate injuries. He missed significant time in 2018 due to a sprained left knee ligament, then suffered a torn ACL in his right knee that ended his 2021 season prematurely. In 2024, Acuña tore the ACL in his left knee after an awkward base-running maneuver, limiting him to just 49 games.
In his eight seasons with the Braves, Acuña has played more than 119 games only twice, underscoring the impact injuries have had on his otherwise stellar career.
Despite missing the start of the 2025 season, Acuña made a strong return to the lineup on May 23rd and quickly regained his elite form. Through 55 games this season, he’s posted a .306 batting average with 14 home runs and 26 RBIs. He played a crucial role in Monday’s win over the Royals, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run.
The Braves will continue to monitor Acuña’s progress during his time on the injured list. While the team remains cautious, the early diagnosis brings optimism that he may return sooner rather than later.
“We’re relieved it’s nothing more serious,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “Ronald is a competitor, and we know he’ll do everything he can to get back on the field quickly.”
Atlanta is next in action on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Photo: D. Benjamin Miller. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.