Ronald Acuna Jr. Going For Checkup Early Next Week
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to head to Los Angeles to meet with doctors first thing next week, according to 929 The Game's Grant McAuley. Acuna expects to be cleared for lateral movement and quick start/stop running, which will eventually determine his next steps and a timetable for him to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. The Braves have declined to give the 27-year-old former MVP a specific timetable, but the consensus all along is that he should be ready to make his season debut at some point in early to mid-May, barring a setback. Acuna has already proven he can be a difference-maker in fantasy, but it's possible he will lose a step after now having torn the ACL in both of his knees. Still, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues and will be a must-start whenever he returns. Jarred Kelenic has been serving as the team's starting right fielder early on in 2025.
Ronald Acuna Jr. To Meet With Doctors Soon For A Checkup
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) will head to Los Angeles soon to get the final clearances from doctors to ramp up his running and eventually start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to 929 The Game's Grant McAuley. There is no firm timetable for when Acuna might make his 2025 season debut, but the team is anticipating an early- to mid-May return, barring a setback. The 27-year-old has been taking batting practice and doing some baseball activities for a while, but he'll need to ramp up his running program and be cleared to play defense before he can start a rehab assignment. The Braves want the former MVP to be a full-go when he's activated from the injured list, so they aren't going to rush anything for a player coming off a second torn ACL in his other knee. Acuna might not be the same player that hit 41 homers and stole 73 bags in 2023, but he still has the ability to be a difference-maker when healthy.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is scheduled to meet with doctors in Los Angeles in the next few days. After that, Acuna should begin a running program, which is the next step in his recovery process. Once the running program is over, Acuna can start a rehab assignment and hopefully rejoin the Braves lineup after that. There is still no timetable on his return, so fantasy managers will need to continue to be patient. Right now, the hope is that Acuna can get back to contributing in the Braves lineup by the middle of May.
Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider Officially Placed On Injured List
The Atlanta Braves officially placed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) and right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) on the injured list, the team announced. Acuna was put on the 10-day IL, while Strider is on the 15-day IL. Additionally, infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. (wrist) and catcher Sean Murphy (rib cage) were put on the 10-day IL. All the moves were backdated to March 24. Despite tearing both of his ACLs now, RotoBaller has Acuna ranked as the No. 16 fantasy outfielder in 2025. The 27-year-old former MVP and four-time All-Star is expected to make his season debut at some point in May, barring a setback once he resumes playing in games. Strider, meanwhile, is recovering from internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last April, but he's further along and is expected to make his 2025 debut in April. He was able to make two Grapefruit League starts.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) believes that he can play better than he ever has but will change his playstyle. The former 2023 NL MVP noted that he would "rather steal 30 and play a whole year as opposed to stealing 70, injuring myself and missing a whole year." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the early part of the season as he is currently targeting a return sometime in May. Acuna suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last season but is on pace to make his 2025 debut early in the campaign. Before suffering the injury in May 2024, Acuna held a .250/.351/.365 line with four home runs and 16 stolen bases. During his 2023 MVP campaign, Acuna posted an impressive .337/.416/.596 line with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases. While he is sidelined in April, Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz will split time in right field. When he does return, he will be viewed as a high-end No. 1 outfielder. However, he may be less eager to run, which could slightly limit his overall ceiling.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Could Return In Early- To Mid-May
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is taking part in most baseball activities in camp but has not been cleared to play in Grapefruit League games. Acuna will embark on a minor-league rehab assignment once the 2025 regular season begins in late March, and his return should come in early- to mid-March, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The 2023 National League MVP has the ability to make a huge impact for the Braves and for fantasy managers when he makes his season debut. Acuna also won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2018 and has made four All-Star appearances. However, he's now torn the ACL in both of his knees since 2021 and will miss at least the first month of the 2025 season. His latest ACL tear has taken him from being the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy to No. 29 at RotoBaller.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Impressing In Live Batting Practice
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) still doesn't have a firm timetable on when he'll return from surgery to fix a torn ACL he suffered last year, but he has been impressing this spring with his performances in live batting practice, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "He's probably as strong as he's ever been," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of the 2023 National League MVP. Acuna tore his right ACL two days before the 2021 All-Star break and tore his left ACL in late-May of 2024. It means we might not see him run as much as he did when he had a franchise-record 73 steals, but his power should remain intact after hitting impressive homers during his live BP sessions this spring. The 27-year-old has also been throwing and doing running drills, although he hasn't been cleared to cut. The Braves want to be sure that Acuna is ready to go once he makes his 2025 debut. There's more risk than ever in fantasy, but Acuna still has it in him to reach the 40-homer mark if he stays healthy.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Won't Play In Spring Games, Could Run Less In 2025
Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) won't play in any spring training games but might serve as the designated hitter in some games on the backfields. There has been no discussion of Acuna DHing at all during the regular season once he comes off the injured list, and the team won't have any timetable until late spring for when he might come off the IL. Acuna is way ahead of the same stage of his previous ACL recovery, but he also said he's planning to "take it easy" on the base paths after tearing his left ACL last May. It was the 27-year-old second torn ACL -- he tore his right ACL in 2021. He said he's running at around 90-95% and feels more stable than when he came back after his first surgery. Not only will Acuna not be running as much, but he's expected to miss around the first month of the season. It's why he's fallen to No. 26 overall in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings.
The Athletic's David O'Brien writes that the Atlanta Braves will be careful not to rush outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) back this year to avoid a repeat of 2022 when he played with lingering soreness and had diminished power and confidence after he tore his right ACL in July of 2021. Acuna tore his left ACL in 2024 and had surgery in early June. He talked his way back into the lineup nine months after his previous surgery, but this time Acuna said he'll leave the decisions entirely up to the medical staff to determine when he's ready to resume playing. The Braves won't include him on the Opening Day roster in 2025 to try and protect Acuna from himself. A return in late April or early May seems like the most reasonable timetable, which would give him around two extra months to rehab compared to his first ACL tear. Despite the fact that he'll miss time, Acuna ranks as RotoBaller's No. 26 overall player in 2025.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Expected To Miss First Month Of The Season
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is expected to miss the first month or so of the 2025 season while recovering from ACL surgery on his left knee, which is the second ACL surgery after he tore his right ACL back in 2021, according to The Athletic's Dennis Lin and David O'Brien. Acuna's recovery is part of the reason the Braves signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million deal on Thursday. Atlanta plans to use Profar in left field and have Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz compete in right field until Acuna returns. When Acuna eventually returns, he'll likely require more days off than usual as the Braves play it cautious with the superstar outfielder. The 27-year-old four-time All-Star and former MVP put up beastly number in 2023, hitting 41 homers, driving in 106 and stealing 73 bases, but his lower-body injuries are piling up and making him a much bigger fantasy risk. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 33 overall player coming off his second ACL tear.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
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Braves
