ATLANTA – The Braves have already seen what a world without Ronald Acuña Jr. looks like. It’s far from ideal, but it’s not a death sentence either.
Three years ago, Acuña tore the ACL in his right knee and missed half of the 2021 season. The Braves acquired Jorge Soler mid-season to replace him, then won the World Series, with Soler winning World Series MVP honors. Likewise, the Braves are now in the early stages of mapping out the consequences after Acuña suffered a torn left ACL on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Acuña will miss the rest of 2024.
“It was kind of the worst case scenario,” manager Brian Snitker said before the Braves’ first game after Acuña, an 8-4 Memorial Day loss to the Nationals. “We’re going to give someone the chance to do something special in their absence.”
Here’s how the Braves move forward without the reigning NL MVP.
Who will replace Acuña in right field?
Snitker said the Braves’ outfield lineup Monday will be their everyday lineup going forward: Jarred Kelenic in left field, Michael Harris II in center and Adam Duvall in right. Harris stays put – but Duvall and Kelenic were platooning on the left. Now, both will be in the lineup every day, meaning Kelenic will regularly be batting against left-handed pitchers. He went 0-for-2 Monday against left-hander Mitchell Parker, which Duvall followed up with a two-run homer in the seventh.
“Right now, it’s going to be pretty consistent,” Snitker said. “That’s what you see. This is what we have.
The Braves also recalled JP Martínez from Triple-A Gwinnett for depth, designating veteran infielder Joey Wendle for assignment in a corresponding move. Martínez, a 28-year-old rookie, will be the team’s fourth outfielder, Snitker said.
It will be fluid, Snitker said. The Braves had Ozzie Albies in that spot Monday against Parker, who allowed just four hits plus Duvall’s homer to completely outplay Charlie Morton.
“It’s an everyday deal,” Snitker said. “I like (Albies) against the southpaw, and I can stay with him (there). I don’t know. We’ll see how everyone else is doing and what it’s like on a daily basis.
Of all the Braves regulars, Albies has the most experience leading the lineup, with 137 games leading the way. Kelenic (20 games) and Harris (four) also have some. Either could be a possibility in the future, but since Albies is a switch hitter, it probably wouldn’t be because of a platoon situation.
The Braves farm system is weak in outfield depth. Only four of their top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline are outfielders, and only one – Jesse Franklin V (No. 26) – is above Single-A ball. Franklin is at Double-A Mississippi and is not a realistic option at this point.
The Braves have outfielder Forrest Wall playing well at Triple-A Gwinnett. It is plausible that it could be raised in the near future. For now, the Braves are keeping Chadwick Tromp on the roster as the third catcher, which limits their ability to carry more than four outfielders. But teams rarely carry three receivers for extended periods.
What is the reaction from the clubhouse?
Snitker: “I feel worse for the child than for us, that he has to go through this again. It was like he was starting to turn things around and be okay. It’s just a weird thing that happened. I feel like he needs to start this process again.
3BAstin Riley: “There are few players in this league who are at his level. It’s a joy to watch him every night. To see this happen, you feel for him. You feel compassion for him because he’s such a talented player. I know he will work hard to come back. But it’s really difficult to replace Ronald.
Sean Murphy: “I feel bad for Ronald. Personally, it must be brutal for him. I know he likes to play every day. This isn’t going to be easy for him. We are confident that Ronald will do what it takes to come back. But I’m sure he’s not feeling very well today.
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