Braves Confirm Ronald Acuna Jr. Will Return Friday
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) will make his season debut on Friday against the San Diego Padres. The team announced Acuna's return with a celebratory post on social media. The superstar hasn't appeared in an MLB game since last May due to a torn ACL, but his return appeared imminent after a successful rehab assignment at the Triple-A level. The Braves will get a major boost by re-inserting Acuna into their lineup. The 27-year-old slashed .337/.416/.596 during his last full season in 2023, adding 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases amidst a historic campaign. He only struck out 11.4 percent of the time that year, but that number was perhaps an anomaly considering he had never finished with a strikeout rate below 20 percent before. It's unclear if Acuna can get back to his 2023 form, and the Braves may give him a little more rest or have him run less often upon his return from the injured list. Nevertheless, Acuna is a perennial All-Star with MVP upside. His return is huge for the Braves and baseball as a whole.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves outfielder Source: Atlanta Braves

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