Ronald Acuna Jr. was replaced by Eli White in the bottom of the sixth inning of Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals after taking a 91 mph four-seam fastball to the body in the top of the inning.
Acuña remained in the game after the pitch, scored a run and later walked off with two plate appearances on the night. He finished 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a run scored before White took over in the field.
The hit-by-pitch came on the second pitch of the at-bat and briefly raised concern over Acuña’s condition, but the fact that he stayed in long enough to score was a sign the Braves were not dealing with an immediate removal. The live injury update centered on his status as the game continued in Washington on April 20, 2026.
Acuña was not eligible for DraftKings Early Exit because he had two plate appearances, a detail that mattered once he had already stayed in long enough to affect fantasy scoring. For now, the key point is that he left after contributing a run, not after being forced out at the moment of contact.
