Ronald Acuña Jr. exits early after scary hit-by-pitch sequence vs. Nationals

Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Atlanta Braves held their breath Monday night when Ronald Acuña Jr. was forced out of the game after being hit by a pitch twice against the Washington Nationals .

Acuña was plunked earlier in the game by Nationals starter Jake Irvin, but the real concern came in the sixth inning when another fastball struck him on the left wrist/hand area. He stayed in briefly to run the bases but did not return to the field, with Eli White taking over in right. The moment quickly escalated tensions, as Bryce Elder hit a Nationals batter in the following half-inning, leading to warnings for both dugouts.

Ronald Acuña Jr. 's been hit twice in this game by Washington starter Jake Irvin, and the boos after the second one are making Nationals Park sound like Truist Trainer George Poulis is out to look at Acuña, who stays in the game. Irvin's night is over.

pic. twitter. com/I0bVgRVcjg — Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) April 21, 2026 Braves get encouraging update The initial fear was obvious given where the pitch landed, but Atlanta avoided a worst-case outcome.