Ronald Acuna Jr. returns to Braves in massive lift nearly one year after crushing ACL tear
The Braves are receiving an MVP-sized jolt in hopes of finally performing up to expectations.
Atlanta is activating former NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. for Friday night's home game against the Padres, welcoming him back after he missed most of the 2024 season with an ACL tear.
His return comes two days before the one-year anniversary of him tearing his ACL against the Pirates last year.
'Tonight: RONALD RETURNS!' the Braves tweeted Friday morning above a highlight clip.
The Braves (24-25) have been one of baseball's most disappointing teams through roughly the first-third of the season, looking little like the contender they were expected to be.
3 Ronald Acuna Jr. won NL MVP in 2023.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Inserting Acuna back into the lineup should provide a massive lift considering he's one of the game's best players when healthy.
Acuna, 27, earned MVP honors in 2023 by becoming the first player in MLB history to hit at least 40 homers and notch at least 70 steals in the season.
3 Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his left ACL last year.
Getty Images
He tallied 41 home runs and 73 steals while slashing .337/.416/.596 with a career-high 1.012 OPS.
The 2024 campaign started slow for Acuna, with just a .716 OPS, before he tore his ACL last year while on the bases against the Pirates.
He stopped while attempting to bluff a steal of third before crumpling to the ground with the injury.
Acuna previously tore his right ACL during the 2021 season.
3 Ronald Acuna Jr. notched baseball's only 40-70 season.
Getty Images
The outfielder underwent surgery on June 6, and the Braves reached the playoffs without him, though they could not win the NL East for the seventh straight season.
The Padres then quickly dumped them in the playoffs with a two-game sweep.
The Braves' offense has been unspectacular this year without Acuna, ranking 17th in runs scored, 14th in slugging percentage and 13th in OPS.
Acuna hit .400 spanning six games and 15 at-bats in the minors before the team cleared him to return, adding two homers in that stretch.
Atlanta sits in third place in the NL East, 7 1/2 games behind the division-leading Phillies and five games behind the Mets.
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