CLEVELAND — He’s again.
After lacking a little bit greater than two weeks attributable to a Grade 1 proper calf pressure, the Atlanta Braves reinstated Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured checklist previous to Friday’s recreation towards the Cleveland Guardians. Catcher Sandy León was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett because the corresponding transfer.
Whereas Acuña received’t be becoming a member of a workforce in the midst of the postseason race, the previous Nationwide League MVP can be seeking to decide up the place he left off previous to occurring the shelf, as he’s slashed .306/.429/.577 with 14 dwelling runs and 26 RBIs in 55 video games this 12 months.
The damage, which was initially identified as an Achilles concern, was anticipated to maintain him out for 2 to 3 weeks. Acuña returned after a little bit greater than two weeks with out occurring a rehab project.
The 27-year-old missed the primary month of the season whereas rehabbing from final 12 months’s ACL damage. After profitable the Nationwide League MVP in 2023 on the again of the primary 40/70 season in MLB historical past, he’s solely performed in 104 video games because the begin of 2024. He additionally tore his proper ACL in 2021.
Whereas Acuña doesn’t have sufficient at-bats to qualify for the Baseball Savant leaderboard, his superior statistics are all in keeping with how they have been previous to final 12 months’s damage. He at present ranks within the 69th percentile in dash pace and has stolen 4 bases in 5 makes an attempt.
Though there’s by no means time to lose a participant of Acuña’s caliber, the Braves posted a profitable file with out him (8-7) because of robust play from a number of the gamers of their lineup who had been scuffling.
They’ll all get a lift because of the addition of Acuña, who’s second on the workforce in bWAR (2.6) regardless of solely taking part in in lower than half of the Braves’ video games.
