Could his return be the Braves’ turning point?
After nearly a year off the field, Ronald Acuna Jr. wasted no time making his presence felt.
In his first game action since tearing his left ACL last May, the 2023 National League MVP launched a solo home run in his final at-bat during a minor league rehab game on Tuesday night. Playing for the Braves’ Florida Complex League team, Acuna went 1-for-3 and patrolled right field for six innings against the Orioles’ FCL squad in North Port, Florida.
It was a welcome sight for Atlanta, who sit third in the NL East at an even 21-21 and trail the first-place Mets by 6.5 games in the NL East. Acuna’s return could be the boost they desperately need.
The 27-year-old star hasn’t appeared in a major league game since May 26, 2024, when he suffered a torn ACL in Pittsburgh. Surgery followed on June 6. Tuesday marked his first official at-bats since the injury, and his fifth-inning blast over the center-field wall served as a loud reminder of what he’s capable of when healthy. There’s still no official timetable for his return to the big league roster, and the Braves intend to ramp him up gradually, mirroring how they handle players in early spring training.
Before the injury, Acuna was off to a modest start (as per his standards) in 2024, hitting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 49 games. But it was just one season earlier that he put together one of the most electrifying campaigns in MLB history.
In 2023, Acuna became the first player ever to record a 40-70 season, blasting 41 home runs and swiping 73 bases. He hit .337, led all of baseball in runs scored (149), hits (217), and on-base percentage (.416), and was unanimously named MVP, just two years removed from tearing his right ACL in July 2021.
Now entering his eighth big league season, Acuna has already racked up 165 home runs, 196 stolen bases, and four All-Star appearances since debuting at age 20 in 2018. He owns a career slash line of .289/.379/.525 across 722 games.
A healthy Acuna immediately changes the complexion of the Braves’ lineup. But as promising as his return looked Tuesday, the team, and the league, will be watching closely to see whether he can withstand another comeback after two major knee injuries before turning 28.
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And given his injury history, it’s fair to wonder: how aggressively should Atlanta push for his return… and at what long-term cost?
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