Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is heading to the injured list with a hamstring strain, the team announced. Jose Azocar was selected to the roster as a replacement. Atlanta also reinstated right-hander Spencer Strider from the IL. Righty Hunter Stratton is headed back to Triple-A to clear a spot.
Acuna was removed in the second inning of Saturday’s game against the Rockies after a groundout. He was replaced by Eli White in right field. The Braves had an opening on the 40-man, so no corresponding move was needed to add Azocar.
The 28-year-old Acuna is off to a slow start this season by his lofty standards. He’s slashed .252/.362/.378 across 152 plate appearances. Acuna has just two home runs in 34 games. Atlanta’s offensive production has been just fine, though, as the club leads the league in scoring by 15 runs.
The Braves will likely lean on a mix of White, Azocar, and Mauricio Dubon for additional reps in the outfield. Michael Harris II is back from a minor quad issue, so he’ll lock down center on an everyday basis. That leaves the aforementioned trio and Mike Yastrzemski to cover the corner spots. Yastrzemski has a .642 OPS in his career against lefties, so he’ll probably remain in a platoon role.
Azocar returned to the organization on a minor league deal in December. He initially latched on with Atlanta in May after a brief stint with the Mets last season. Azocar only appeared in two games with the Braves before getting designated for assignment. He went back to New York and spent the rest of the year in the minors, then elected free agency.
The 29-year-old Azocar has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, mostly with the Padres. He debuted for San Diego in 2022 and earned semi-regular work at all three outfield spots. Azocar posted an 81 wRC+ in 216 plate appearances. He was up and down with the big-league club over the next couple of seasons. Azocar hasn’t hit enough to stick for an extended stretch in the majors, but he provides some speed along with competent defense in the outfield.
More to come…
The circle of life.
Acuna on the IL, weird.
Yeah, when did that ever happen before? 😉 (as stars continue to 💧 like 🪰🪰)
it’s absurd that our highly paid slugger gets injured doing something stupid like running the bases. this wouldn’t have happened with a designated runner.
#UniversalDR
They get paid millions. You want them not to run? Thats ridiculous
Forgive Eric. He forgot to use the sarcasm font. He’s just a fruitbat after all.
You have been designated too slow to hit this subtlety.
As much as I hate to say it is it time to trade Acuna and get a haul ?
No offense but that’s stupid we aren’t rebuilding he is still very very talented and he will help us win. We want to win and if we trade him we diminish our ceiling.
Is that you, 2032?
The kids called him Mr. Glass.
That 8 year $100MM contract isn’t so one sided after all!
Idk about that
It’s really a shame. It felt like he was just starting to heat up.
He’ll miss the HOF for all the time lost in his career due to injury. Like Trout. They could have been 1st ballot but injuries will keep them out.
Trout is a hofer for sure no doubt. If you put Ozzie smith in he has to be in
Let me cement it to 400 homers 200 SB that is elite plus his fantastic defense early in his career
Trout, with 89 career WAR at age 34, will not be a first ballot HOFer (or not at all?).
Big if true.