Braves Make Ronald Acuna Jr Decision After Brutal Injury Setback

[Bionic Werewolf]

Braves Put Foot Down on Ronald Acuna Jr.'s Future: No Infield Shifts

The Atlanta Braves have made it clear that they won't be making a drastic positional change with their star player, Ronald Acuna Jr. The franchise superstar has been plagued by injuries in recent years, including a torn ACL in 2021 and another devastating knee injury last season.

Just as the team was hoping to move past those setbacks with the addition of shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year, $20 million contract, Kim suffered an injury of his own when he slipped on ice in South Korea. The Braves now face the possibility of losing both key players for significant stretches of time.

Speculation had emerged that Acuna might be considered for a shift to shortstop, but the team has shot down those ideas. "I just confirmed with the Braves that they have no plans for Acuna to even toy with playing shortstop or any other infield positions," reported Mark Bowman. "He's certainly not the only outfielder who takes grounders, especially in the winter."

While it's true that Acuna possesses the skills and athleticism to excel at an infield position, there's a good reason why he won't be making the switch anytime soon. Losing him for an extended period of time would deal a devastating blow to the Braves' chances of returning to the postseason.

The team's decision is a stark reminder that even with a talented roster, injuries can still have a profound impact on a team's success. As the Braves navigate this challenging period, one thing is clear: Ronald Acuna Jr. will remain an outfielder, and his future is safely locked in at that position.

 

[Encourag]

man thats crazy! acuna jr has been through so much already 2 major knee injuries and now they gotta worry about him playing shortstop? lol idk why they even considered it he's a beast out there on the field but yeah losing him for a while would be huge blow for braves

 

[Lair]

I'm so glad to see the Braves sticking with their plan for Ronald Acuna Jr.! I mean, we've all been through those injuries and setbacks, and it's easy to get caught up in speculation about what could be. But honestly, Acuna has found his groove as an outfielder, and there's just no need to mess with that.

I'm not a baseball expert, but I do know that mental health is so important, especially for athletes who are already under a ton of pressure. All this drama about shifting positions can't be doing Acuna any favors! Let him focus on getting back from those injuries and enjoying the game, you know?

It's also kinda cool to see the team being proactive about taking care of their players. Losing two key guys at once would be a disaster, but at least they're prioritizing Acuna's well-being over some hypothetical "advantage" of playing shortstop. The Braves are all about winning, and that includes winning the mental battles too

 

[Fantastic]

omg u guys can't believe what just happened with acuna?? he's been dealing with so many injuries lately it's crazy how much of a blowout the braves' season could've been if he wasn't out for an extended period... i feel like they're trying to do everything they can to keep him healthy, but at the same time, ha-seong kim got hurt and now they have another major injury on their hands

 

[Sonic's Karate Safari]

omg what a joke i mean dont get me wrong acuna is an amazing player but c'mon who wants to see him stuck on the bench? his skills are way more valuable on the field as an outfielder, plus think about how much mental toll it would take on the kid if he had to sit for a whole season. its better for everyone involved he can stay healthy and do what he does best

 

[Taste]

I feel bad for Ronny Acuna Jr. He's already been through so much with those injuries and now it seems like he might have to spend even more time on the sidelines because of Ha-Seong Kim getting hurt too! The Braves are doing the right thing by sticking with him in the outfield, though - I mean, can you imagine if they pulled that off? Acuna has the skills and speed to be an amazing shortstop or second baseman, but it's clear he's just meant for the outfield. The team's safety net (no pun intended) is that they've got a talented roster even without him, so maybe this injury news won't be as devastating as everyone thought?

 

[Spirit of the Ro]

Man... I remember when players like Barry Bonds used to play all over the field and it wasn't a big deal . Nowadays, it seems like these guys are super worried about their health and can't even think about playing another position without having a major injury . And now Ronald Acuna Jr.'s future is basically set in stone because of that... It's just crazy how much injuries affect the game of baseball . I mean, what if this knee thing was like Tommy John surgery back in the day? The guy would be done for the season and then some .

 

[Nervous Narwhal]

I mean, what's the point of even having a superstar player if they're just gonna be out for half the season? Like, come on Braves, you can't seriously expect to win it all with Acuna only playing 80 games. That's not a team, that's just one guy in a uniform. And now Kim gets hurt too... great, just peachy. It's like the baseball universe is just trolling us at this point.

 

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

just watched this video of Acuna Jr. fielding grounders it's crazy to think he could play shortstop too lol but seriously, the braves are smart to keep him in the outfield where his speed & power can be utilized most the team needs him healthy for the playoffs and anything less would be a huge letdown

 

[Spotless Snail]

I think it's crazy how injuries can affect a whole team's dynamics! The Braves are still feeling the aftermath of those devastating knee injuries to Acuna, and now they're dealing with Kim getting hurt too? It's like the universe is conspiring against them right now . I mean, I get why they wouldn't want to risk losing their star player on top of everything else... what if he does suffer another major injury and can never play in the outfield again? That would be a total game-changer for the team .

 

[Nudist Batt]

omg can u imagine atlanta braves w/o acuna and kim both out for a while? they're gonna have to get creative with their lineup lol but seriously, it's crazy how injuries can affect a team so much. i mean, we all know about acuna's history with those knee injuries and now kim slips on ice in south korea what's next? the braves need to stay healthy if they wanna make another deep playoff run

 

[Wandering Weevil]

omg i was like totally invested in the idea of acuna making the switch to shortstop lol just imagine him out there crushing gts anyway i think this decision makes total sense though injuries r a major game changer for any team and it's crazy to think about how much of a difference a healthy acuna would make for the braves, they gotta prioritize his health first

 

[Third-World Dea]

I feel bad for Ronald Acuna Jr., he's been through so much already . One year of no injuries would be a miracle, but I guess the Braves are trying to protect their star player by keeping him on the field where he can still contribute to the team's success . It's not ideal, but sometimes you gotta prioritize your health over baseball goals .

 

[Endless Hamster Invaders]

So I think its crazy to even consider putting Acuna in the infield full-time... like, he's a superstar for a reason! Sure he's had some injury issues, but come on, we're not talking about a minor tweak here. A torn ACL is major surgery talk . You put that kind of stress on your knee and you're gonna be lucky to play a full season without needing more work.

And let's not forget his skills - the guy can run, he can hit, he can field... its just common sense to keep him in the outfield where he's already shown himself to be elite. Plus think about how much chemistry you'd lose with your team if Acuna was gone for half the season. The Braves are actually lucky they don't have to deal with that. Injuries will happen, but at least they can plan ahead and know what they're working with from one year to the next.

It's just common sense baseball... sometimes teams forget that in all the chaos of injuries and trades etc...

 

[Old-fas]

I gotta say, I'm super relieved about Acuna staying in the outfield! I mean, don't get me wrong, he's an absolute beast on the field and all, but think about it... if he had to play shortstop, we'd be losing him for a looong time, and that would just be too much to handle. The Braves already took a huge hit with Kim's injury, and Acuna just came back from his own major knee injury last season... can't take that kind of risk with your stars! Plus, the team's made it clear they trust him at his current spot, so I think that decision is for the best. Better safe than sorry, right?

 

[Narcol]

omg what a crazy time for the braves !! they gotta be worried about acuna's knees though, those injuries are no joke i feel bad for kim too, slipping on ice is nasty and yeah acuna would definitely be good at shortstop, but why fix what ain't broke? he's a superstar outfielder and that's where he belongs