May 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) reacts on the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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When will Ronald Acuna Jr. return?

Atlanta Braves will soon get their biggest star back!

The Atlanta Braves’ 2024 season was filled with disappointments, but none were more devastating than the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. The 2023 National League MVP tore his left ACL on May 26, 2024 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing his season to an abrupt halt and leaving Braves fans with an abrupt sinking feeling.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is back mashing baseballs 😳

🎥: academiaizturis / IG pic.twitter.com/plw8ertJEk
— MLB (@MLB) January 14, 2025

Acuna’s injury was eerily reminiscent of July 2021, when he suffered the same fate in his right knee. That setback cost him the remainder of the season, though he returned in 2022 after a lengthy recovery. Now, as the 27-year-old superstar works his way back once again, the Braves and their fans eagerly await his return.

Ronald Acuna Jr. targeting a May comeback

Acuna has publicly stated that he is aiming to return during the Braves’ home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins on May 2. If he hits that timeline, it would mark a return almost identical to his comeback in 2022, when he rejoined the lineup on April 28 after his previous ACL tear.

Only a matter of time before we see Ronald Acuña Jr. play baseball again pic.twitter.com/CjuaAPqcFk
— Peyton (@PeytonTowry) March 1, 2025

That season, however, was a struggle by Ronald Acuna’s lofty standards. He slashed .266/.351/.413 with just 15 home runs, 50 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 119 games. He admitted at the time that he never felt fully comfortable on his surgically repaired knee and had trouble generating power at the plate. However, after a full, healthy offseason, Ronald Acuna bounced back in spectacular fashion in 2023, slashing .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and an incredible 73 stolen bases en route to his first MVP award.

Given Acuna’s history, the Braves will likely take a cautious approach upon his return. While his ability to impact a game in multiple ways remains undisputed, his stolen base numbers are expected to dip as a precautionary measure. Early projections for 2025, per Baseball Reference, suggest a modest stat line (by his standards) of 15 home runs, a .294 batting average, 44 RBI, and an OPS of .859.

Even if Ronald Acuna doesn’t immediately return to MVP form, his presence alone will be a massive boost for a Braves team that has been dealing with multiple injuries. His ability to change the game with his bat, speed, and energy could be the key to Atlanta making a postseason run, potentially a deep one, unlike last season.

ALSO READ: Atlanta Braves injury update: Sean Murphy out for Opening Day plus 4-6 weeks with cracked rib

As Braves fans anxiously await his return, all eyes will be on his recovery process in the coming months. If Ronald Acuna can return soon, stay healthy and regain his rhythm, another electrifying season could be on the horizon.

Atlanta Braves

Injury

Ronald Acuna

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.