PITTSBURGH – Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. exited Tuesday’s game against the Pirates after right-hander Colin Holderman struck him in the left elbow with a 97-mph sinker.
The good news for the Braves: X-rays on Acuña’s left elbow were negative.
“We’ll just see what he feels like in the morning,” manager Brian Snitker said after his team came back to beat the Pirates, 8-6.
Acuña was in immediate pain, as he let out a yell when the pitch hit him and slammed his bat because he was in so much pain. Braves head athletic trainer George Poulis and manager Snitker left the dugout to check on Acuña, who was crouching a couple steps up the first-base line. Poulis checked Acuña’s left arm, from his fingers to his elbow.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Acuña soon exited the game. Forrest Wall replaced him in the lineup, and played left field. Kevin Pillar, one of Tuesday’s heroes, moved to right field.
Acuña wears an elbow guard when he hits, but Snitker said the outfielder told him the pitch went in between the protective padding, where the crease is, and hit his elbow.
Sometimes, players will stay in the game and run the bases to see if the pain lessens. But Acuña was hit too hard for this.
“It stung him too bad, probably, to even suffer through the bases,” Snitker said. “There are some injuries (that) you can do that and see, but I guarantee you he had no feeling in that arm. It caught right in between that guard. I’d rather not take any chances, even if he could. Just get out, get treatment on it and we’ll see if he’s ready to go (Wednesday).”
Acuña wasn’t available to reporters after Tuesday’s win.
At this point, Acuña is the frontrunner for National League MVP. He’s batting .339 with a 1.009 OPS. He has 26 home runs, 68 RBIs and 53 stolen bases.
Acuña led off Tuesday’s game with a home run off Mitch Keller. This was Acuña’s fifth leadoff homer of the season, and the 31st of his career.
Acuña has started all 111 of the Braves’ games this season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in Wednesday’s lineup, but the Braves will evaluate him in the hours leading up to the game.
