The Atlanta Braves are dealing with a major setback as Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, is out for the season with a torn ACL, his second such injury in three years. Acuña Jr. missed half of the 2021 season and the beginning of the 2022 season due to his first ACL tear. Now, he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season and likely the beginning of the 2025 season. This is a huge blow for the Braves, who have World Series aspirations and will need to find a way to succeed without one of their best players for the second time in three years.
In 2021, after Acuña’s first ACL tear, the Braves quickly added replacements to their roster. They acquired outfielders Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall before the trade deadline. All four outfielders played key roles in helping the Braves win the World Series that year. Rosario was named NLCS MVP, while Soler earned World Series MVP honors. The Braves currently have Duvall, Michael Harris II, and Jarred Kelenic as outfielders on the roster, but they may look for more help before the trade deadline to replicate their 2021 success.
The Braves recently signed outfielder Ramón Laureano to a minor league deal after he was released by the Cleveland Guardians. Laureano, a seven-year MLB veteran, has a career .242 batting average with a .740 OPS. He has struggled this year, hitting just .143 with an OPS of .494. However, Laureano has shown to be an above-average MLB outfielder throughout his career, with an OPS+ of 106. In his best season in 2019, he had a slash line of .288/.340/.521 with 24 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an OPS of .860 in 123 games. While Laureano is currently a minor league addition, he will compete to earn a spot on the MLB roster as the Braves search for ways to replace Acuña Jr.
With Acuña Jr. out for the season, the Braves will need to come up with a plan to fill the void left by one of their best players. The team’s success will depend on how well they can replace Acuña and continue to compete for a World Series title. Despite the setback, the Braves have shown in the past that they are capable of finding new talent and making strategic moves to strengthen their roster. As they navigate this challenging situation, the Braves will be looking for opportunities to improve their team and remain competitive in the league.
The loss of Acuña Jr. is a significant blow to the Braves, who had high hopes for the 2024 season and beyond. Acuña’s absence will force the team to make adjustments and find ways to compensate for his absence on the field. The Braves will need to rely on the depth of their roster and the talent of their remaining players to continue their quest for another World Series title. It will be a challenging task, but the Braves have shown resilience in the past and will be looking to overcome this obstacle with determination and strategic decision-making.
