Latest news with #AcunaJr
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr crushes 467-foot home run on first pitch in return from ACL injury
Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time after he tore his ACL last season in the team's 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Truist Park. Acuna, 27, looked like he hadn't skipped a beat. On the first pitch he saw from San Diego Padres starter Nick Pivetta, the 2023 NL MVP demolished it 467 feet for a towering solo home run. Acuna said he "had a feeling" he might do something special in his return. "To me, that's just the culmination of all the work I put in," he said. Unfortunately for the Braves, Acuna's solo home run was the lone run they scored, as Pivetta shut the Braves' offense down afterward. Pivetta ended up pitching six innings while he scattered four hits and struck out seven Braves' hitters. Padres third baseman Manny Machado broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning with a solo home run off Raisel Iglesias to give the Padres a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The loss drops the Braves to 24-26, who are still looking to rebound after an 0-7 start. The team hopes the return of Acuna can help spur them back into postseason contention. "He's one of those players that you better not go get a beer or whatever, because you might miss something really cool, you know?" Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I mean, he's that type of force, I think, in the game. I think he's going to energize everybody. Gonna energize the fans. Gonna energize his teammates." "It's huge," third baseman Austin Riley said of Acuna's return. "The talent is there. The energy he brings, having Ronald up there at the top of the lineup. ... he can change a game at any point." The Braves and the Padres will play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) to return Friday
May 23 - Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. will be activated off the injured list before the series opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday night and play in his first game in nearly 12 months. The 2023 National League MVP tore the ACL in his left knee on May 26, 2024. The activation will come three days prior to the anniversary of the injury. "Ronald will be coming off (Friday)," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after an 8-7, 10-inning road loss against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. "We talked after I talked to you guys (pregame) and decided rather than him playing a game (Thursday night) in Louisville and taking (Friday) off, he could take today off and come play with us (Friday). That'll be good. He feels ready so that's great. It will be great to get him back in the lineup." After Snitker began his postgame press conference, Acuna posted the following on social media: "Vamos a divertirnos." Translation: "Let's have fun." After Acuna was a healthy scratch from Triple-A Gwinnett's lineup on Thursday night, word began to circulate that he would make his return to the majors on Friday. Acuna, 27, played the entire game in right field for Gwinnett on Wednesday and informed Snitker that the knee was feeling great. "It'll be sooner than later now," Snitker told reporters of Acuna's return prior to Thursday's contest. Acuna was 6-for-15 with two homers and two RBIs in six rehab games. He homered for the Braves' Florida Complex League team in his first game on May 13 and spent the rest of his stint playing for Gwinnett. Acuna hurt the knee last season while taking a large lead off second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He underwent surgery on June 6. Acuna batted .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 16 steals in 49 games last season prior to the injury. In 2023, Acuna was the unanimous MVP as he belted 41 homers and stole a major-league-best 73 bases to post the first 40-70 season in MLB history. He batted .337 and led the majors with 149 runs, 217 hits and a .416 on-base percentage. His historic campaign came two years after he sustained a torn right ACL on July 10, 2021, and missed the rest of that season. Since making his major-league debut in 2018 at 20 years of age, Acuna has batted .289 with a .379 on-base percentage, .525 slugging percentage, 165 homers, 417 RBIs and 196 steals in 722 games over seven seasons. He's a four-time All-Star. --Field Level Media
