The Atlanta Braves, widely considered the best team in baseball, will be without their star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. for the rest of the season due to a freak injury resulting in a torn ACL.

Acuña was leading off second base during the Braves’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday when the injury occurred. It’s rare to see a non-contact ACL injury in baseball, more common in sports like football, and it’s hard to recall a similar incident happening before.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Acuña has suffered an ACL tear; previously, his right knee gave out under different circumstances. Following the game, the Braves confirmed that Acuña would miss the remainder of the season, and he has already apologized to the team’s fans, who likely hold no resentment toward him.

Acuña Jr. is one of the most talented players in recent years, and it’s disappointing to lose several prime years of his career to injuries. This is a significant blow to the Braves. While they did win the World Series in 2021 after Acuña’s injury, thanks to their depth and key trades, they don’t have the same resources this year. Although they are well-positioned at 30-20 and will likely make the playoffs, it’s hard to see them making a deep run without him. Despite the setback, the Braves secured an 8-1 victory on Sunday.