Ronald Acuña Jr. is eagerly anticipating his return to the Braves lineup, much to the excitement of the fans.
Acuña made his return to the field during the first rehab game for the Braves’ Florida Complex League team.
In just five innings, he hit a solo home run, taking a moment to acknowledge the crowd as he rounded first base. It was a joyful scene as he dashed toward home plate, leaping into the air for a high five with a teammate after scoring.
After a long absence due to a torn right anterior cruciate ligament sustained in Pittsburgh last May, Acuña has been limited to just three plate appearances in this rehab outing. He exited the game after seven innings but is expected to gradually increase his playing time, similar to how teams manage players at the start of spring training.
While Acuña can only be in rehab for a maximum of 20 days, he remains optimistic about rejoining the lineup well before that deadline, aiming to play by the end of the month.
The Braves had announced on Monday that he would start his rehab stint with the Florida Complex League team while they hosted the Orioles’ team at Coolto Day Park in Northport, Florida.
The team will continue to train and play in Northport until he’s ready to join one of the Braves’ other minor league squads.
A former National League MVP in 2023, Acuña’s 2024 season was cut short due to his ACL injury last May.
With the team’s current mediocre record of 21-21, any boost from Acuña’s return will undoubtedly be welcomed in the coming weeks.
