Ronald Acuña Jr. began his rehab assignment last week, and the reigning 2023 NL MVP has been red-hot ever since. He homered in his return with the Florida Complex League and has since batted .500 with a .750 on-base percentage and one home run for the Gwinnett Stripers.
Naturally, Braves fans are excited about his return and wondering when it will happen. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos addressed the topic in a conversation with The New York Post’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman.
“Acuña is currently traveling with the minor league team,” Anthopoulos explained. “While there’s no set timeline, he’s already played back-to-back games in the outfield for six innings each and then served as DH on the third day. Our goal is to get him closer to playing a full nine innings in the field. At the plate, his timing looks solid. Typically, rehab assignments for position players are focused on getting back into rhythm, and he’s been involved in simulated games and live BP since Spring Training.”
“The main focus now is building up his legs. He hasn’t tried to steal a base yet or played a full game in the field. This week will be about progressing in those areas. We’re monitoring him daily, and his workload should start ramping up on Tuesday. He’ll be off Wednesday with a day game on the road and then play again Thursday — so expect him to play two of the next three days. He’s getting really close.”
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Some had predicted (myself included) that Acuña could return by May 23rd at Truist Park. While Anthopoulos didn’t rule that out, a return during the following series on the road in Philadelphia seems more likely.
In any case, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return is just around the corner, and his rehab continues tonight in Louisville.