Braves Ex-MVP Set to Return, Provide Offensive Spark
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After nearly 365 days away, former MVP and Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to make his season debut on Friday against the San Diego Padres.Acuña
Acuña has been out since May 25 of last season when he tore his ACL for the second time in four seasons. His addition to the Atlanta lineup could be exactly what the Braves offense needs after a bad series loss to the Washington Nationals.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of Atlanta Braves celebrates advancing to the National League Wild Card Series after defeating the New York Mets during game two of a double header at...
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of Atlanta Braves celebrates advancing to the National League Wild Card Series after defeating the New York Mets during game two of a double header at Truist Park on September 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. More
Matthew Grimes Jr./Getty Images
The last full season we saw from Acuña was one of the greatest in the history of Major League Baseball. Acuña led all players in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage. The season was capped off by Acuña winning the first MVP award of his career and left high hopes for his 2024 season.
That season was cut short by his injury in May against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is finally ready to return to the major leagues and prove he is still among the game's best players.
A lifetime .289 hitter, Acuña will insert at the top of a Braves lineup that currently ranks 14th in the major leagues with a .247 team batting average. Acuña also has 196 career stolen bases and will add that threat to an Atlanta offense that ranks 20th in stolen bases with 32.
After starting the season 0-7, the Braves were able to get their record back to .500 at 21-21 but have since lost four of their last season games to fall to 24-25 on the season.
Atlanta's next three series are against the Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. With the club already sitting 7.5 games out of first place in the NL East, the next 10 games for the Braves are a chance to prove that despite their slow start, they are still one of the best teams in baseball.
More MLB: MLB Power Rankings: Yankees Rise, Mets and Padres Fall, AL Team Skyrockets Into Top 10
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