Atlanta Braves Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Homers in First Rehab Game
Ronald Acuña Jr. hasn't played in a Major League Baseball game in almost a whole calendar year. The Atlanta Braves rightfielder was lost for the 2024 season on May 26 of last year when he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The blow was devastating for the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player and his team. The Braves had been tabbed as a potential World Series favorite, but ended up falling in the NL Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres in a two-game sweep.
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Acuña's road back has been long, but on Tuesday he took a big step toward returning to the Bigs by playing in his first minor-league rehabilitation game in the Braves' Florida Complex League.
And he did more than just play.
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in May 2024.Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Acuña punctuated his return to the field with a home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles' FCL squad.
That step is the first of several the Braves will want to see from their superstar on the field as he, and they, seek a return. The organization has not provided a timetable on how long Acuña will play before being activated, though position players cannot stay on a rehab assignment for more than 20 days. Theoretically, that would set him up for a return at the beginning of June.
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Acuña slashed .337/.416/.596 during his MVP season, leading the Majors with 217 hits, 73 stole bases and 149 runs. He hit 41 home runs with 106 RBI and posted an OPS + of .171.
Related: Dodgers Manager Says Clayton Kershaw To Make 2025 Season Debut
Related: Odd Timing for MLB's Reinstatement of Pete Rose and the Black Sox
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