Ronald Acuña Jr. spoke to the media for the first time since tearing his ACL, and his comments are truly heartbreaking.
Nearly a week has passed since Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Pittsburgh. While his teammates have previously shared their thoughts, Thursday marked the first time Acuña spoke to the media since the devastating news.
This injury is particularly crushing for the 2023 NL MVP, who endured a similar ACL tear in his right knee just three years ago. Braves fans may recall reports that his first injury was so overwhelming that the young superstar cried every day during his recovery.
Unfortunately, experiencing an ACL tear before does not make the second recovery any easier, and Acuña’s comments on Thursday were gut-wrenching to hear and read.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Heartbreaking Comments on His ACL Injury
The 26-year-old outfielder expressed immense gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans, admitting that it has moved him to tears at home.
“I feel like I’m the one abandoning the team. It feels like I’m the one letting everyone down,” he said, conveying his deep sense of guilt.
Acuña Jr. also mentioned that the team doesn’t need him to win a World Series. This sentiment echoed by the team’s ace, Spencer Strider, after his season-ending UCL injury, is particularly poignant given that the Braves accomplished just that in 2021. Following Acuña’s ACL injury in 2021, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos transformed a struggling team into playoff contenders by acquiring four outfielders to fill the void left by Acuña. The Braves then went on an incredible postseason run, ultimately winning their first World Series since 1995, with Acuña cheering from the sidelines.
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No one understands the challenging road to recovery better than Acuña, and we wish him a swift and smooth recovery. His surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he will remain for a month to begin his rehabilitation.
Despite his honorable intentions to support his teammates once he returns from surgery, it’s still difficult for fans to accept that Acuña won’t be able to contribute to Atlanta’s pursuit of a third World Series title.
Acuña has a vast support network known as Braves Country, and hopefully, that will help him persevere through the tough days ahead.
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