The Atlanta Braves placed star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring. Acuña has been a key contributor this season but recently saw his production dip below his elite standards. To replace him on the active roster, the team promoted first baseman Rowdy Tellez and designated right-hander Jhancarlos Lara for assignment.
This marks the second time this year that Acuña has been sidelined by a left hamstring injury. He previously spent two weeks on the IL in early to mid-May before returning to action. Acuña is hitting .251/.373/.421 with a 125 wRC+ this season, which is well below his career 142 and last year's 161 mark. Despite the setback, the Braves remain confident he will return stronger for the stretch run.
With Acuña out, the Braves will adjust their outfield depth. Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Harris II will remain in their usual roles while Mauricio Dubón and Eli White are expected to see more time. If Dubón spends more time in the outfield, it could create opportunities for Jorge Mateo or Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop.
Tellez, 31, will serve primarily as a bench bat. He has never played in the outfield and is expected to see action mostly against right-handed pitching. The Braves have Matt Olson at first base and Dominic Smith as their designated hitter. Smith is hitting .292/.331/.458 with a 118 wRC+ this season.
Tellez has a career .236/.299/.452 line against right-handed pitching and has hit .259/.367/.483 in Triple-A this year. He signed a minor league deal in the offseason and has performed well in limited action.
Jhancarlos Lara, 23, was designated for assignment after being on optional assignment all season. Lara has elite velocity but struggles with control, walking 17.5% of batters faced in his minor league career. In 15 Double-A games this year, he walked 33.3% of batters and posted an 8.22 ERA.
Lara will now enter the waiver process, which could take up to five days. If no team claims him, he will remain in the Braves’ system without using a 40-man roster spot. Atlanta may explore trade interest given Lara’s potential and remaining options.
The Braves remain in control of the NL East with a 45-22 record and a nine-game lead over the Phillies. With their strong position, the team can afford to be cautious with Acuña and focus on long-term health. The Braves will now look to maintain their lead while preparing for a potential playoff run in October.
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