This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your
NORTH PORT, Fla. — The Braves haven’t revealed when Ronald Acuña Jr. will return from his newest knee surgical procedure, and no person is aware of what to anticipate from the 2023 Nationwide League MVP when he returns.
However as Acuña has spent the previous couple of weeks hitting ridiculously lengthy batting observe house runs, he has offered the reminder that he can nonetheless be one thing particular, even with two surgically repaired knees.
“He’s most likely as robust as he’s ever been,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated.
Acuña tore his proper ACL two days earlier than the 2021 All-Star break, and he tore his left ACL close to the top of Might final season. We’d by no means see him steal as often as he did in 2023, when he tallied a franchise document 73 stolen bases whereas additionally hitting 41 homers.
However there’s little question the 27-year-old outfielder might add a couple of extra 40-homer seasons to his assortment. Accidents and COVID have restricted the dynamic veteran to simply two full seasons to date (2019 and ‘23). He hit 41 homers in each of these seasons.
“[Braves hitting coach Tim Hyers] stated [Acuña] was within the cage the opposite day whistling that bat like some guys do a Wiffle ball bat,” Snitker stated.
Acuña is taking common batting observe, and he has confronted reside pitching throughout reside batting observe classes. He has additionally been throwing and doing operating drills that hold him on a straight path. However he hasn’t been cleared to do any chopping drills.
Atlanta is attempting to keep away from Acuña having to take care of the lingering discomfort that adopted him all through the 2022 season. He returned in late April of that 12 months, rather less than 10 months after his ’21 season ended with the knee damage.
“When he comes again, we would like him to have the ability to go,” Snitker stated. “We’re going to verify he is able to go once we do flip him unfastened.”
As soon as Acuña is cleared to start chopping and enjoying the outfield, he’ll full the ultimate steps forward of a Minor League rehab stint that probably can be shorter than the one Spencer Strider might start in a few weeks.
If all goes properly for Strider, he can be in line to affix Atlanta’s rotation throughout the second half of April.
Like Acuña, Strider has needed to be affected person as he anxiously waits for the prospect to get again on the sector and show he stays elite.
“God has blessed them with that potential, they usually need to use it,” Snitker stated.
