Ronald Acuna Jr. Grabbed His Hamstring and Limped Off in Denver: MRI Looming for the Braves

The Atlanta Braves took down the Colorado Rockies 9-1 in Denver on Saturday, but they're leaving Colorado with a cloud hanging over their roster. Ronald Acuna Jr., the 2023 National League MVP, left the game in the second inning after pulling up on a grounder he hit, immediately grabbing at his left hamstring. He limped off the field under his own power after the team's medical staff checked him out on the dirt. The MRI is scheduled, manager Walt Weiss confirmed after the win.

How It Happened

Acuna started the game strong, leading off with a single in the first inning and scoring when Drake Baldwin followed with a home run. Then came the second inning and the moment everything shifted. Running out a grounder he'd put in play, Acuna's hamstring tightened up. He grabbed at it, pulled up, and knew something wasn't right. The fact that he could walk off on his own is something, but the fact that he needed an MRI in the first place? That's the concern the Braves are carrying out of Coors Field.

Where Acuna Stands This Season

The MVP is hitting .252 with two homers and nine RBIs through 34 games. Not where he or the team wants him to be at this point in May, and now a hamstring injury could sideline him at a time when the Braves are trying to find rhythm. Eli White replaced Acuna in right field for the remainder of Saturday's game. White is hitting .196 with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 games, so the Braves clearly need Acuna healthy and producing.

The MRI results will tell the story of how long Atlanta's cleanup hitter might be sidelined. For now, the Braves got the win in Denver, but they're holding their breath waiting for what that imaging shows.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.