One of baseball’s brightest young stars now has a tentative timeline to return to action. According to reports, the Atlanta Braves are targeting May 6th against the Milwaukee Brewers as a possible timeline to activate star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. from the IL.
Acuna Jr., who has been rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee following a tear in 2021 will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, with plans to ramp up his baseball activities for roughly two weeks. The 24 year old has been working out at the club’s Spring Training facility in Florida since the start of the 2022 MLB campaign.
Prior to going down with a knee injury last season, Acuna Jr. was amongst the favourites for the NL MVP award. Sporting a .283 average with 24HRs, 52RBIs, 72 runs scored and 17 stolen bases through only 82 games, many believed it would be a loss Atlanta would be unable to overcome.
Instead, the 2018 Rookie of the Year watched from the sidelines as the Braves went on a remarkable late season run to capture the World Series title in 6 games over Houston.
Upon his return, the Braves plan to continue using him in right field, while also working in some time at DH as he regains his strength. His addition to the lineup will be a major boost both offensively and defensively for Atlanta as the club has started off slow with a 5-7 record through their first dozen games.
Thus far, the team has relied on an outfield of Marcell Ozuna, Adam Duvall, and Eddie Rosario. While Ozuna has begun the year on a strong note, Duvall (.238 avg 0 HRs) and Rosario (.065 avg 0HR, 0RBI) have mostly struggled at the plate.
“It’s gonna be some kind of boost for this club when he gets back in the top of that order.” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. In the interim, Ozzie Albies has held down the fort in the leadoff role admirably for Atlanta, but there’s no denying that Acuna’s rare combination of power and speed is sorely missed around Truist Park these days.
The two time All-Star hasn’t suited up for an MLB game since injuring his knee attempting to field a liner off the bat of Jazz Chisholm on July 10th, 2021.