Baseball

Braves Place Ronald Acuña Jr. on Injured List with Hamstring Strain

by
William Caldwell
June 11, 2026

In a significant blow to the Atlanta Braves, star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring. The injury occurred during Tuesday night’s 10-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox, where Acuña limped off the field after attempting to beat out a grounder in the fourth inning.

Following the game, an MRI revealed the extent of the strain. Braves manager Walt Weiss provided an update, stating, “Grade 1, so it’s not terrible, but enough where we had to IL him. We’d be waiting around a while, playing short-handed if we were waiting for it to heal. So we went ahead and put him on the IL.” This marks Acuña’s second left hamstring injury of the season; he previously spent time on the injured list from May 3-18 for a similar issue.

Weiss noted, “I don’t think it’s as severe as the last one, but still going to need some time.” The Braves have responded to the injury by promoting first baseman Rowdy Tellez from Triple-A Gwinnett. Tellez, an eight-year major league veteran, has been performing well, hitting .259 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 49 games.

To accommodate Tellez on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated right-hander Jhancarlos Lara for assignment. In addition to this move, the Braves made several adjustments before their Wednesday night game, including promoting James Karinchak to the major league roster while designating fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment. The team also recalled right-hander JR Ritchie and placed reliever Tyler Kinley on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation, retroactive to June 8.

Kinley, who has a record of 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 31 appearances this season, will now be sidelined as the Braves navigate their roster changes. Meanwhile, Acuña, the reigning NL MVP and a five-time All-Star, has been struggling at the plate this season, currently hitting .251 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 15 steals, and a .793 OPS. Despite the setback, the Braves remain at the top of the majors with a 45-23 record, leading the NL East by eight games over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.

William Caldwell

William Caldwell is a veteran journalist whose career has spanned the highs and lows of the sports world. With a focus on baseball and hockey, William’s articles are known for their depth and historical perspective, making him a favorite among fans who appreciate the rich traditions of sports. Outside the press box, William is an amateur historian with a particular interest in sports memorabilia.