Atlanta Braves number one prospect Ronald Acuna escapes serious injury but heads to the 10 day DL.
Ronald Acuna scared the life out of Atlanta Braves fans yesterday when he landed awkwardly after beating out an infield single. Fortunately for the Acuna, the team and fans, it wasn’t as bad at it looked.
Atlanta Braves get good news
Luck and youth mean the Braves number one prospect will spend time on the DL and get to know the team physios really well but surgeons won’t be needed.
Results from Ronald Acuña Jr.’s MRI exam today showed a left knee mild ACL sprain and a left knee contusion. The exam also showed a lower back contusion. He will be placed on the disabled list and re-evaluated at the end of the 10-day period.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 28, 2018
Yahoo’s Jeff Passan explains the various types of strains succinctly.
Unclear from the language whether this is Grade 1 or Grade 2 sprain. If indeed it's Grade 1 -- that's what it sounds like -- it's more that the ligament was stretched, and he's back within a few weeks. Grade 2 is a partial tear, which would sideline him for upward of two months. https://t.co/WKP0UAsgZ8
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 28, 2018
The Braves received the news too late to officially move him to the DL before the first game today. That will happen between games.
Acuna was running around this morning and lobbying to play in today’s second game. Still instead of waiting a couple days to see how steadily he improves, the Braves took the wise, cautious route by putting him on the DL
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 28, 2018
Acuna could be activated on June 7, an off-day before the Braves tangle with the Dodgers in LA; I doubt he’s back that quickly.
No word yet on who gets the call from Gwinnett.
UPDATE
We now know the name; Dustin Peterson,
#Braves brought up Dustin Peterson from Triple-A to take roster spot of the DL’d Acuna.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 28, 2018
Selected in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Padres, Peterson came to the Braves as part of the Justin Upton trade. He’s currently hitting .267/.319.457/.776 with four homers for Gwinnett. He’ll be available for the second game today.
It could have been worse
When Acuna went down I immediately thought of the injury to Bryce Harper last year,
Harper suffered no knee or ligament damage but that injury cost him 45 days on the shelf.
Later I realized that the way his leg bent in two directions was closer to Manny Machado’s injury in 2013.
Looking back the Acuna injury looks a lot like the 2013 injury that resulted in his knee surgery. Acuna and #Braves dodged a bullet this time. pic.twitter.com/cRUJa8LEUF
— Chief_Fred (@FredEOwens) May 28, 2018
In Machado’s case the diagnosis was a torn medial patellofemoral ligament. That post includes wording suggesting surgery wouldn’t be needed. In the end Machado did have surgery when second and third opinions suggested it.
"“in the long run, and for my future as a baseball player, this surgery would be the best plan.”"
The next season Machado’s knee failed on a swing in an August game and he required a second surgery.
Acuna’s MRI shows only a strain but I believe the Atlanta Braves will exercise extreme caution with their budding star.
That’s a Wrap
One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity to remind the manager he can play a bit too.
When Acuna took over on April 25 Tucker had a .254/.289/.465/.754 line with three – three home runs and 18 RBI. Entering today’s game he’s up to .278/.313/.456/.768, a .329 wOBA and 108 wRC+. Tucker won’t let the Braves down through lack of effort or commitment.
The question of Acuna’s temporary replacement on the 25 man roster is a conundrum. I’d like Dustin Peterson to get a shot, he’s swinging it well at Gwinnett. Acuna was the backup center fielder and Peterson can’t play center field so he’s not the obvious choice.
Next: You need a fishing license to go trolling ya know
That leaves the option of Peter Bourjos or Danny Santana. Santana won player of the week in the IL last week but Bourjos has better overall numbers. I’ll update this post when the Braves announce it officially.
Hey I get my wish and D Pete is the callup. The Braves will likely use Culberson as emergency CF.