Atlanta Braves' Officials Reportedly 'Concerned' About Knee Issue with Reigning NL MVP

Atlanta Braves' superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. has been diagnosed with irritation in his surgically-repaired right knee and is being sent off for more testing. While Acuna Jr. isn't concerned about his knee, team officials are reportedly "concerned."

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Atlanta Braves' team officials are "concerned" about Ronald Acuna Jr.'s surgically repaired right knee.

Per Nightengale:

Ronald Acuna’s right knee certainly has Atlanta officials concerned. He will fly to Los Angeles to undergo an examination by Dr. Neal ElAttrache to determine the cause of irritation around the meniscus in his surgically-repaired right knee.

If arthroscopic surgery is needed he’ll open the season on the injured list. 

Now that's a big "if" with regards to surgery, but the fact that surgery is being openly talked about is alarming. Acuna Jr. was scratched from a spring training game earlier this week and was diagnosed with irritation in his knee - the same one he had operated on for a torn ACL in 2021.

One of the best players in baseball, Acuna Jr. is just 26 years old. He is already a four-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger, a Rookie of the Year and an MVP winner. He also was part of the Braves' 2021 World Series roster, though he was unable to play for much of that year after tearing his ACL.

Acuna Jr. is coming off one of the best seasons we've ever seen before, having hit .337 with 41 homers and 73 stolen bases. He also posted a .416 on-base percentage.

Lifetime, he's a .292 hitter with 161 homers and 180 stolen bases. He helped the Braves win the National League East for the second straight year in 2023, and they'll be favorites in the division in 2024.

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