Ronald Acuña Jr. Retires Due to Lower Back Discomfort; Jacob Wilson Injured
In an unexpected turn of events, Atlanta Braves All-Star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from Tuesday’s lineup against the Athletics due to lower back tightness. The news sparked concern among fans and the team, as Acuña Jr. is a key piece in the team’s scheme.
Meanwhile, the Athletics also suffered a significant loss. All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson was hit on the left wrist by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning.
The Braves announced the decision to take Acuña Jr. out of the lineup approximately 50 minutes before the start of the game in West Sacramento, California.
Eli White replaced Acuña Jr. in right field and batted eighth, while left fielder Jurickson Profar was moved up from the fifth spot to the leadoff spot in the lineup, usually occupied by Acuña Jr.
The Braves plan to evaluate Acuña Jr. in the coming days before deciding his availability for next week’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. Acuña Jr. is scheduled to participate in the Home Run Derby next Monday and start in the All-Star Game the following night.
This is the fifth All-Star nomination for the 2023 National League MVP.
Atlanta rested on Monday, so it’s not clear when Acuña Jr.’s back started bothering him. The 27-year-old is batting .331 with nine home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games, after missing nearly 12 months due to an ACL injury.
After Lawrence Butler opened the game for the Athletics with an inside-the-park home run, Wilson came to bat and was hit by Atlanta’s right-handed pitcher, Didier Fuentes. Wilson left the game and was taken back to the locker room behind the outfield wall to be examined.
Wilson, 23, is slated to be the starting shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game. He’s batting .335 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs. Monday was his 85th appearance of the season.
Max Schuemann ran as a pinch runner for Wilson and took over the shortstop duties.
