Why The Braves Should Shut Down Ronald Acuña Jr. For The Rest Of The Season

The Atlanta Braves’ 2025 campaign has gone off the rails and now it’s time to stop pretending otherwise.

On Tuesday night in Kansas City, Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from yet another game, this time with tightness in his right Achilles tendon. One day later, the four-time All-Star was placed on the 10-day injured list, his second stint this season.

Given where things stand, Atlanta should go a step further: shut Acuña down for the rest of the year and shift the focus toward a full recovery and a stronger start in 2026.

The Braves are currently 45-61 and sit well out of the National League playoff picture. A year that began with World Series expectations has instead become a frustrating mix of injuries and inconsistent play. At this point, risking further injury to their franchise player serves no purpose.

Acuña had just started showing signs of heating up again. In Monday night’s series opener against the Royals, he went 2-for-4 with a home run and continued to resemble the dynamic threat Atlanta has always relied on. Through 55 games, he’s slashing .306/.372/.524 with 14 home runs, 26 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

But that return to form has been fleeting.

The Achilles issue that forced him out Tuesday adds to a concerning list of physical setbacks in recent seasons, including a torn ACL in 2021 and nagging lower-body injuries that have slowed his explosiveness at times. Achilles tightness, especially for a player who relies on speed and torque, is nothing to gamble with.

With just under two months remaining and the team sitting 16 games under .500, Atlanta’s playoff hopes are all but mathematically dead. The upcoming trade deadline is expected to bring some roster changes, but none will dramatically alter the course of this season.

There is simply no justification for pushing Acuña through another injury when the games don’t matter. Instead, the focus should be on preserving the long-term health of one of baseball’s most electrifying talents.

Acuña is just 27 years old and under contract through 2028. The Braves have built their core around him, and when healthy, he remains one of the most valuable players in the sport. If the team hopes to return to contention next season, it needs him firing on all cylinders from Opening Day next year.

Shutting him down now gives him the time and structure to recover fully. It allows the medical staff to monitor his lower body more closely, and it allows Acuña to enter the offseason without compounding wear and tear that could shorten his prime.

Resting Acuña opens up everyday reps for younger players, lets the coaching staff evaluate future depth, and signals to fans that the organization is thinking long-term.

Acuña has given Braves fans countless highlights, an MVP season, and a World Series run. But his value to this franchise lies in what he can still become — and how long he can remain at the center of Atlanta’s plans.

That starts with being smart today.

Shut him down. Let him heal. Let him prepare for 2026. The rest of this season isn’t worth the risk