Ronald Acuna Jr. is seemingly a day away from his return to Truist Park. The Atlanta Braves scratched Acuna from what would have been his sixth rehab look with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase reports that Acuna is en route to fulfill the crew in Atlanta. Francys Romero adds that the Braves intend to activate him from the injured record earlier than Friday’s sequence opener towards the San Diego Padres.
It’s three days shy of the one-year anniversary of Acuna’s season-ending ACL tear. On Could 26, 2024, he tore the ligament in his left knee whereas bluffing a stolen base try. It was the second time in his seven-year profession {that a} season had been lower quick by a devastating knee damage. Acuna tore the ACL in his proper knee in July 2021, sidelining him for his or her World Collection run.
Acuna made a faster return from his first ACL tear. He was reinstated earlier than the top of April 2022. He confirmed some indicators of rust all through that yr, hitting .266/.351/.413 the remainder of the way in which. That was effectively beneath his 2018-21 manufacturing. He adopted with a career-best season to win the 2023 NL MVP award. He’d been out to a slower begin final season, batting .250/.351/.365 throughout 49 video games.
The Braves took issues extra slowly with Acuna’s second ACL rehab. He didn’t log any sport motion in spring coaching and has spent the primary two months of the season on the IL. Atlanta despatched him to its advanced to start a rehab project 10 days in the past. He performed one sport there earlier than reporting to Gwinnett, the place he collected 5 hits and took seven walks in 5 video games. The Braves have evidently seen sufficient to plug him again into Brian Snitker’s lineup, presumably in his customary leadoff spot.
Alex Verdugo has been hitting atop the order whereas taking part in each day in left subject. He’s struggling offensively for a second consecutive yr. Verdugo has hit .257/.314/.330 and not using a dwelling run in 118 plate appearances. That’s on par along with his .233/.291/.356 batting line in final season’s disappointing run with the Yankees.
Acuna has been a full-time proper fielder over the previous half-decade. He’ll slot again into that place, the place Eli White has performed his approach into common taking part in time. He might slide to left subject and lower into Verdugo’s reps. White hit .311/.367/.600 with eight extra-base hits in April. His bat has cooled this month (.269/.310/.358 with no dwelling runs), however that’s nonetheless a bit higher than what Verdugo has supplied.
White hits right-handed however has been higher with out the platoon benefit all through his profession. The lefty-hitting Verdugo is significantly better towards righty pitching, as anticipated. Jurickson Profar might be again from his PED suspension in July. He’ll presumably return to on a regular basis left subject work, although he’d be ineligible for postseason play if the Braves qualify.
Atlanta has clawed again to .500 following its 0-7 begin to the season. The Braves are three video games again of the NL’s last wild-card spot, which is at present held by the crew they’ll welcome Friday. San Diego swept the Braves over a four-game set to open the yr, however it’s taking a six-game dropping streak into this weekend’s sequence.
The Braves technically solely have to create an lively roster spot for Acuna’s return from the 10-day IL, however they’re fairly more likely to designate somebody for project Friday. Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II are the one hitters on the lively roster who’ve minor league choices. Luke Williams, Stuart Fairchild and Orlando Arcia are all out of choices and have seen little to no taking part in break day the bench in current weeks.
