Truist Park has a hometown favorite to cheer on in the Home Run Derby, but it isn't the player originally chosen to participate.
It's been a difficult season for the Braves, but the triumphant return of Ronald Acuna Jr. gave fans something to cheer for in the first half.
While it took the former MVP an additional year to get back to form after a 2021 ACL tear, he wasted no time after returning in late May from a second ACL tear. Acuna enters the All-Star break with 12 home runs in 45 games and an OPS north of 1.000 despite sitting out for nearly an entire year.
An All-Star starter, Acuna was initially announced as the first participant in the Home Run Derby, but he won't be competing at Truist Park on Monday night. Matt Olson, who hit 54 home runs for the Braves in 2023, is taking his place.
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Here's what you need to know about Acuna's decision to pull out of what would have been his third Home Run Derby appearance.
MORE: How Ronald Acuna Jr. is thriving after torn ACL
Why isn't Ronald Acuna Jr. in the Home Run Derby?
Acuna was scratched from the lineup by the Braves on Tuesday with lower back tightness. Acuna returned Wednesday to hit two home runs and said he was looking forward to competing, but the injury was enough for him to pull out of the derby by Friday.
Matt Olson will replace his Braves teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. in the 2025 @TMobile#HRDerby. pic.twitter.com/Kd94fwh3tP
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2025
Acuna isn't believed to be dealing with anything serious, as he played out the Braves' final series of the first half and is still slated to start the All-Star Game, but it's no surprise that Atlanta wasn't keen on letting Acuna take dozens of forceful swings with a bad back — particularly with the time he's already missed due to ACL injuries.
Olson, who is one of the most durable players in baseball and already has a derby appearance under his belt, took Acuna's place. MLB reliably chooses a hometown player to compete in the Home Run Derby, so the All-Star slugger was a natural choice to fill Acuna's shoes.
Olson will be looking to become the fourth player to win the derby in his home ballpark and first since Bryce Harper in 2018.
MORE:Meet the full Home Run Derby lineup
Is Ronald Acuna Jr. injured?
Acuna dealt with lower back tightness in the week leading up to the Home Run Derby, but his decision to sit out of the derby is believed to be precautionary. The 27-year-old only missed one game with the ailment and will still start the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
For the Braves, it makes plenty of sense to hold Acuna out of the derby. A sore foot or knee might not be a serious problem in this setting, but it's easy to see how a back issue could worsen after taking numerous high-powered swings in a short amount of time. The path to postseason contention is extremely narrow for the Atlanta, but the organization doesn't want to see its star miss any more time after losing nearly two calendar years to different ACL tears.
Monday would have marked Acuna's third Home Run Derby appearance. He reached the semifinals in 2019 but was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 derby.
Category: Baseball
