Braves Manager Talks About Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Return
The Atlanta Braves have yet to announce when Ronald Acuña Jr. will be back on the field, but manager Brian Snitker made it clear that he wants his former MVP to be fully ready before returning.
According to MLB.com, Acuña has been impressing people at Braves camp as he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in May of last year.
While there’s no set timeline for his return, Snitker emphasized the importance of making sure Acuña is completely ready before stepping back onto the field:
“When he comes back, we want him to be able to go,” Snitker said. “We’re going to make sure he is ready to go when we do turn him loose.”
The Braves are cautious about rushing his return too soon or risking lingering soreness. Currently, Acuña has been taking batting practice, throwing, and running, but he hasn’t been cleared to make cuts yet.
That said, Acuña could still be back with the Braves by the end of April, around the same time Spencer Strider is expected to return from his Tommy John surgery.
Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP, played just 49 games last season before the injury, hitting .250 with 4 home runs and 15 RBIs. However, his 2023 season was one of the best we’ve seen, as he hit 41 home runs, drove in 106 RBIs, and stole 73 bases, solidifying his place as one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball.
The Braves are coming off a season where they finished second in the National League East and made it to the playoffs, only to be eliminated by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round. With a healthy Acuña and Strider, the team should be in a strong position to challenge the Dodgers in the National League. Additionally, the Braves missed key players like Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies for significant portions of the 2024 season, and if they stay healthy, the Braves could push even further against the Dodgers.
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