Acuña (hamstring) exits after running out grounder, will undergo MRI

CHICAGO -- Ronald Acuña Jr. knew immediately.

Two steps before reaching first base, the Braves superstar felt something grab in his left hamstring. By the time he crossed the bag in the fourth inning Tuesday night, he was hobbling. Moments later, he was slamming his helmet in frustration and disappearing into the tunnel beneath the visitors' dugout at Rate Field.

For a player who has spent much of the past five years fighting through devastating injuries, it was a sight that stopped everyone in their tracks.

Fortunately for the Braves, the initial outlook appears far less alarming than the images suggested.

Acuña exited Atlanta's 6-5, 10-inning loss to the White Sox with left hamstring tightness and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Following the game, manager Walt Weiss expressed optimism that the injury is not as severe as the Grade 1 left hamstring strain that sidelined Acuña for 16 days earlier this season.

"It doesn't seem as bad as the last one," Weiss said. "We're not eyeing an IL [stint] on him right now, but day to day. He's going to get an MRI, and then we'll go from there. It's certainly not as bad as the last one."

That was about the only encouraging news the Braves received on an otherwise frustrating night.

Atlanta wasted a pair of Matt Olson home runs, surrendered a four-run lead and watched White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery launch a walk-off homer in his Major League debut. But by the time players entered the clubhouse afterward, the outcome had become secondary.

The conversation centered around Acuña.

"I'm disappointed, man," Acuña said. "I don't know how many injuries you need to pass."

The sequence unfolded quickly.

With one out in the fourth inning, Acuña grounded a ball to third baseman Miguel Vargas. As he sprinted toward first base, he suddenly appeared uncomfortable. He continued running through the bag before hobbling several steps into foul territory in shallow right field.

The former National League MVP slowly limped his way back toward the dugout, visibly frustrated. He slammed his helmet before disappearing up the tunnel. When the Braves took the field for the bottom of the inning, Eli White had replaced him in right field.

Given Acuña's history, the reaction was immediate.

In July 2021, he sustained a season-ending tear of his right ACL. Three years later, another torn ACL -- this time in his left knee -- ended his 2024 season. Then came the hamstring strain on May 2 of this year, sustained while running out a ground ball against Colorado.

"We saw it not too long ago," Weiss said. "We needed him the last time. We've got our fingers crossed, hoping this one's not too bad."

Acuña believes it isn't.

Asked how Tuesday's discomfort compared to the injury that landed him on the injured list in May, he offered a noticeably more optimistic assessment than his manager.

"This one is easier," Acuña said. "I don't feel any pain. I just feel a little bit tight. Let's see what happens in the MRI tomorrow."

The timing was particularly cruel.

Tuesday marked the first time Acuña had shared the field this year with his younger brother, White Sox infielder Luisangel Acuña. The two exchanged smiles throughout the evening and even shared a moment after Luisangel applied a tag on Ronald during a stolen-base attempt.

Afterward, Ronald admitted the possibility of missing additional games was already crossing his mind.

"It was amazing," Acuña said of sharing the field with his brother. "The first time we shared the field and played together. So I'm disappointed because I don't know if I can play tomorrow and the next day."

Atlanta jumped out to an early lead behind Olson, who homered twice -- including a remarkable opposite-field blast on a changeup below the strike zone -- and finished with three RBIs.

The Braves carried a 4-0 advantage into the middle innings before Chicago chipped away. Atlanta briefly regained control when Mauricio Dubón delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning, but Montgomery's walk-off homer against Raisel Iglesias ended it.

It was a memorable moment for the White Sox rookie.

For the Braves, however, the lasting image from Tuesday night wasn't Montgomery rounding the bases.

It was Acuña limping toward the dugout, hoping that this injury scare will prove to be just that -- a scare.