Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. exits early with left hamstring tightness

DENVER (AP) — Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. left Saturday night's game against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning with left hamstring tightness.

With his team holding a 2-0 lead, Acuña was attempting to run out a ground ball before he pulled up about halfway down the base path and grabbed at his left hamstring.

He was examined by team medical personnel before walking gingerly off the field and back to the Atlanta dugout. There was no immediate update on his condition.

He was replaced by Eli White in right field.

Acuña had a leadoff single and scored the Braves’ first run on a two-run homer from Drake Baldwin to left field.

After a torn ACL he suffered in May 2024 limited him to a combined 144 games over the past two seasons, the 28-year-old Acuña has played in all of Atlanta’s 34 games this season.

The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP is batting .252 this season with two home runs, nine RBIs, 17 runs and a team-high seven stolen bases.

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Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., center, is escorted off the field after being injured while running out a ground ball in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

After he was inured while running out a ground ball, Atlanta Brave' Ronald Acuña Jr., right, confers with first base coach Antoan Richardson (86), a trainer, second from left, and manager Walt Weiss, left, in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., center left, walks gingerly after being injured while running out a groundout as first base umpire Bill Miller, center right, looks on in the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The New York Mets rewarded Luis Torrens with a two-year, $11.5-million contract extension Saturday on his 30th birthday, locking up one of baseball’s best backup catchers through the 2028 season.

“It’s special, honestly,” Torrens, speaking through an interpreter, said before Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. “I’m really, really happy about it. Ever since I got here to the Mets, everyone has treated me great. I feel like I’m part of the family.”

Torrens was a journeyman who spent time in five other organizations when the Mets acquired him from the New York Yankees in May of 2024.

He quickly established himself as a defensive force, filling in for injured starter Francisco Alvarez and splitting time with Alvarez on a Mets team that went 89-73 and advanced to the NL Championship Series.

Torrens was a National League Gold Glove finalist last season, when threw out 20 of 49 runners (40.8%) attempting to steal, the second-highest caught-stealing rate in the majors. Per Baseball Savant, he led baseball with 12 catchers caught-stealing above average. He has thrown out four of seven attempted base-stealers this season.

“It’s huge, huge,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Torrens’ ability to control the running game. “He’s been a great citizen, a great player, one of the best, if not the best, backup catchers in the league. I’m proud of him and glad that he’s finally getting rewarded.”

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Colorado Rockies' Brett Sullivan (26), right, slides safely home while New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens waits for the ball during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)