NEW YORK – Ronald Acuna Jr. created a scare when he struck out from just three pitches in the Braves’ 5-3 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader to the Mets at Citi Field on Monday. But it looks like the Atlanta star may be back in action soon.
Acuña exited the game after being hit in the left shoulder by Tylor Megill’s 93.4 mph fastball. The player spent just over a minute sitting on the grass near the batting box clutching his shoulder in pain while the coaching staff attended before heading to the clubhouse for further assessment.
An initial x-ray taken at Citi Field was negative, prompting the Braves to announce that the player was dealing with a left shoulder contusion.
But to make sure it was nothing more than a bruise, the Braves sent Acuña to a nearby hospital to obtain more imaging results, which confirmed no fracture.
“You just want to be sure,” said manager Brian Snicker.
Acuña finished Game 1 — which the Braves won, 9–8 — three short of the cycle, with a three-hit outing highlighted by a 448-foot homer from Statcast, which landed in the third over the left-of-center-field wall. Three Mets players were injured in that game: Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso.
“At that spot, she (Megill) was trying to get up and in,” said Braves catcher Shaun Murphy. “You wouldn’t throw a guy 0-2 in that moment. But it still sucks. It pisses guys off.”