The Atlanta Braves are activating outfielder Rona Acuna Jr. from the injured list ahead of Monday night’s game against the New York Mets the team confirmed.
Acuna Jr., who had been sidelined for roughly 7 weeks due a left hamstring strain, has appeared in just 53 games to date this season as he’s battled a pair of lower body injuries. Across 236 plate appearances, the former NL MVP is hitting .251 with 7 home runs, 22 RBIs, and 31 runs scored. He’s also added 15 stolen bases in 22 attempts on the year.
While some have speculated that Atlanta could opt to slow play Acuna Jr.’s return to the lineup by having him DH for the homestretch of the season, manager Walt Weiss recently told reporters he expects to deploy him in his usual right field position. This could of course be subject to change depending on whether the team features a right or left handed pitcher on the mound, or weather related concerns, but it would appear as though the team won’t be treating the 28 year old with kid gloves in his return to the Majors.
Atlanta remains atop the NL East division at 62-43, but have seen their once dominant lead shrink to just 5.5 games over second place Philadelphia in the absence of Acuna. In a corresponding move, the team optioned outfielder Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Gwinnett.
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