Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, weather permitting, per the Athletic’s David O’Brien (via Twitter).
That’s obviously great news for the Braves, who have been without their star outfielder since July 10th of last season. Acuna Jr. played in 82 games in 2021, almost exactly half the season, slashing .283/.394/.596 with 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases across 360 plate appearances. When healthy, there’s little doubt that he is one of the most electrifying talents in the game.
A healthy Acuna Jr. could potentially take over in center, though the Braves preferred to use him in right field in 2021. Adam Duvall has been Atlanta’s primary centerfielder this season, and he’s held his own defensively. Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna have primarily been in the corners with Alex Dickerson, another corner outfielder, getting at-bats as the designated hitter. Someone from that group is going to lose at-bats when Acuna returns, with Dickerson the likeliest to find himself on the bench.
Braves Butt-Head
Yes and when we get Soroka and Yates back we will be stacked.
Aerok
I’m excited for them to come back as well but I really wouldn’t expect them to assume their pre injury form for quite a while, if ever. Fingers crossed though.
Braves Butt-Head
If they are say 80% of what they were then thats still a huge get for the Braves.
Dustyslambchops23
It will be amazing to see soroka back on the mound. Really rooting for him and not a braves fan
bravesfan
If soroka can come back and happens to be what he was before he gets injured, that is incredibly huge for the Braves. In fact, I’d argue, that if Acuna and Soroka come back to their pre-injury selves, that soroka would have a bigger impact to the team today than Acuna simply because our starting pitching is thin and has been a bit of a roller coaster. Truth be told,the rehab assignment for soroka will be a long one if you ask me …
Jean Matrac
This is good news for baseball. Not a Braves fan, but looking forward to seeing Acuna play.
piratesanddbacksfan
Agree looking forward to acunas return as well —- good him I n fantasy draft
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
This is a big deal, at least everyone has made it one, this young player has a huge amount of pressure to perform. As a Braves fan, I hope he comes through.
jem
Yes
ldoggnation
That’s huge.
TradeAcuna
Hopefully the Braves find a new home for Duvall.
Soler for Duvall. Get it done!
Drew Waters Bat
You hush your mouth. Arcia should be first. Dickerson is just getting a little unlucky. I would love soler back but Miami won’t make a crazy trade 2 years in a row like that. Soler is on a 3 year contract. Gonna be interesting with Dansby’s contract coming up after this season. Wonder how AA is gonna address this. I expect an extension for Max Fried to come at sometime.
TradeAcuna
Arcia is only on the team for his defense in case Swanson is hurt or needs rest. He is not going anywhere.
Swanson is gone after this season. I don’t think the Braves are bringing him back.
48-team MLB
Grissom will take over for Swanson in the near future.
Braveslifer
my thought as well…
JAMES JACOBSEN
Apparently you haven’t compared their stats Duvall is WAAAY better than Soler!
gmatron
Soler? The guy who has compiled a puny 3.5 WR over his entire career?
racosun
My fantasy team’s fans are gonna be stoked!
bravesnation nc
Ronald is itching to get back. We need him to make these pitchers pay!!
Evan Stanleyson
Just please cancel the season, owners.
BraveLil'Toaster
Unleash the Beast!
Old York
Mets aren’t going to be happy. With all the stars injured, it will be nice to see one face of the game return.
mj-2
Rosario proving to be a fluke. His career was on the way down when we got him last year and managed to milk whatever was left to a WS.
Not complaining, appreciate the run he put on, but I don’t trust him long term. Resigning him was a bad idea.
gmatron
Absolutely. Cleveland gave him away for peanuts and no other team rushed to sign him in the offseason. He’s just not that good.
Appalachian_Outlaw
I wouldn’t write him off. It’s only been like a week. I know his stats are brutal right now, but short Spring and just some tough luck could be a part. I’m not going to panic unless his bat doesn’t heat up by the end of May.
Smacky
It’s been 10 games. This is baseball. Nothing matters or means anything when that’s the time frame you’re working with.
48-team MLB
*WORLD CHAMPIONS
DS1
Rosario is more suited for LF. When Acuna returns, it’ll be Acuna in RF, Rosario in LF and Duvall in CF for now. Ozuna becomes the DH.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Ozuna is the hairy chested OF for the Braves, for now
Jeremy320
Many (most) players come back from such a serious injury at a fraction of their previous athletic performance. Wait and see mode for Acuna but best of luck.
bhambrave
Yeah, Chipper was terrible when he came back..twice. [/sarcasm:off].
TMBraves
Chipper returned from the same injury and he turned out ok
Smacky
You sir, are about as wrong as wrong can be –
healio.com/news/orthopedics/20200514/no-effect-on-…
You Can Put It In The Books
Concern for Acuna Jr for sure, but I think the Braves fans should be more concerned with Soroka returning to anything close to his previous form. Achilles surgery notoriously requires a full year AFTER returning to game action before players report feeling close to 100%. Back-to-back Achilles surgeries? Good luck.
Cohn Joppolella
Dickerson needs to go.
You Can Put It In The Books
Tuesday, 5 pm: Ronald Acuna Jr suffered a setback Tuesday while warming up prior to his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett.