Braves Sign Journeyman Outfielder Following Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Injury
The Atlanta Braves are once again faced with the challenge of replacing one of baseball’s top players. Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for the season with a torn ACL, his second such injury in three years. This setback will sideline Acuña Jr. for the rest of 2024 and likely part of 2025.
Despite this significant blow, the Braves remain focused on their World Series aspirations. They triumphed in 2021 without Acuña Jr. and aim to replicate that success in 2024. Back in 2021, the Braves swiftly bolstered their roster with key outfield additions after Acuña Jr.’s first ACL injury. They acquired Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall, all of whom played crucial roles in their championship run. Rosario was named NLCS MVP, and Soler earned the World Series MVP title.
Currently, the Braves’ outfield includes Duvall, Michael Harris II, and Jarred Kelenic. However, they are likely to seek additional reinforcements before the trade deadline, aiming to emulate their 2021 success. The team has already taken action, signing journeyman outfielder Ramón Laureano, who was recently designated for assignment and released by the Cleveland Guardians. Laureano joins the Braves on a minor league deal.
Laureano, 29, is a seven-year MLB veteran with experience playing for the Oakland Athletics and the Guardians. He has a career batting average of .242 and a .740 OPS, although he has struggled this season, hitting just .143 with a .494 OPS. Despite his recent challenges, Laureano has shown he can be an above-average MLB outfielder. His career OPS+ is 106, indicating he has been 6% above the league average as a hitter. His standout season was in 2019 when he posted a .288/.340/.521 slash line, hit 24 home runs, and had an .860 OPS in 123 games.
While Laureano starts on a minor league contract, he will compete for a spot on the MLB roster. Meanwhile, the Braves will continue scouting for additional moves to fill the void left by the irreplaceable Ronald Acuña Jr.
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