The Atlanta Braves are once again turning to their Triple-A depth, this time out of necessity. On Friday, the club placed Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with right Achilles tendon inflammation and recalled Jarred Kelenic from Triple-A Gwinnett to help fill the void in the outfield.
It’s a tough blow, both emotionally and competitively, for a team already scrambling to stabilize its roster. Acuña, who has already missed significant time this season, aggravated the Achilles area during Tuesday night’s 9-6 loss to the Royals. Despite battling discomfort before the game, the reigning MVP suited up — determined to contribute.
Reports say Acuña was in tears after the game, a sobering reminder of how much this team means to him and how hard he’s fought to stay on the field.
Initial signs are somewhat hopeful. According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, early evaluations suggest the injury is not severe, and an MRI will confirm whether there’s a chance for Acuña to return within 2–3 weeks. If true, it’s a huge relief for Braves fans — but the team will almost certainly proceed with caution given his injury history.
Braves Call Kelenic Back Up to Atlanta
The former top prospect made the Braves’ Opening Day roster and was seen as a breakout candidate after a roller-coaster 2024 at the plate. But in 23 games, he hit just .167 with a .531 OPS, prompting his April 23 demotion to Gwinnett. Things haven’t improved much in Triple-A either: he’s slashing .217/.612 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.
At this point, he’s here out of need, not momentum.
The Braves are likely to platoon Kelenic and Eli White in right field, while Michael Harris II holds down center and Jurickson Profar remains in left. It’s a patchwork solution, but Atlanta doesn’t have many options with both Acuña and several bullpen pieces sidelined.
Acuña’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time. In just 54 games this season, he’s been nothing short of sensational: .309 average, 14 home runs, 26 RBIs, and a 1.012 OPS. His performance earned him a starting spot in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, and while he pulled out of the Home Run Derby as a precaution, Matt Olson filled in his place.
With the Braves’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread and injuries piling up, the next few weeks could be make-or-break. Kelenic, who’s still searching for consistency, now gets another chance to prove himself. But this move is less about upside and more about desperation depth as Atlanta fights to stay afloat in a turbulent season.
