Acuna hasn't yet spoken to Atlanta manager Brian Snitker since Venezuela was eliminated from the WBC, but the team expects him to be in the Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Tigers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old went 4-for-18 during five WBC games with a double and three steals. Acuna posted a career-low .764 OPS in 2022 over 119 games as he made his return from ACL surgery, but the main issue was his launch angle, not his ability to crush the ball. A 30-30 season, or even better, is entirely plausible for Acuna if he stays healthy.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Gets go-ahead for WBC
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Atlanta approved Acuna to play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
There has been a lot of back-and-forth reporting on this topic, but Acuna is indeed going to be on Venezuela's roster when it is officially revealed on Thursday night. The 25-year-old ultimately secured permission from Atlanta, who have been in contact with Team Venezuela's staff about a strategy that would keep Acuna healthy. He might be limited to DH duties initially in the WBC as he moves further and further away from his 2021 torn ACL. Acuna wants to return to full-time outfield work for Atlanta in 2023.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Skipping World Baseball Classic
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Acuna wanted to represent Venezuela at the upcoming World Baseball Classic but doesn't expect to do so, following the advice of doctors and of Atlanta's training staff, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The news could be seen as evidence that the team still doesn't fully trust Acuna's health even though 18 months have passed since he tore his ACL, though it's probably unwise to read too much into the decision. While it's true that some superstars with injury histories will participate in the tournament, with Mike Trout being the most notable example, it's certainly not universal. Atlanta understandably wants Acuna to focus on being the best version of himself for the regular season. After returning from surgery in late April of last year, Acuna's speed didn't seem affected, as he stole 29 bases in 119 games, but his .266/.351/.413 slash line and 15 home runs were below his usual standards.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Elbow feeling fine
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Acuna said he "feels good" after taking a pitch off his right elbow during Wednesday's win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Acuna was able to stay in the game even though he was clearly in a lot of pain. Atlanta still might keep an eye on Acuna's elbow for the next couple of days, but the team didn't express much concern about his ability to play in Friday's Game 3.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Not in Wednesday's lineup
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Acuna isn't starting Wednesday against Miami.
Acuna has gone just 1-for-10 with a run, an RBI, a stolen base, three walks and four strikeouts over the last three games, and he'll rest during Wednesday's regular-season finale. Robbie Grossman will take over in right field and bat seventh.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Drives in run, steals base in win
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Acuna went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Marlins.
Acuna ripped an RBI single off Braxton Garrett in the top of the second frame before swiping second base. He later added two walks to his line. The stolen base was his 29th of the year and first since Sept. 13. Acuna came into Tuesday's contest having gone 3-for-20 with six strikeouts and no RBI in his last five games, so he'll look to build off the performance as Atlanta heads into the playoffs.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Homers twice in Tuesday's win
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Acuna went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Nationals.
After missing a few games late last week with back trouble, Acuna came off the bench for a key hit Sunday and appeared to be 100 percent healthy Tuesday as he launched his 14th and 15th homers of the year. The 24-year-old is slashing just .256/.304/.477 through 92 plate appearances in September, but he could be gearing up for a big finish to the regular season as Atlanta tries to win its fifth straight NL East crown.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Re-enters lineup Monday
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Acuna (back) will start in right field and bat leadoff Monday against the Nationals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna had been out of the lineup for each of Atlanta's last four games with mid-back tightness, but he always appeared to be a good bet to start in Monday's series opener in Washington after he logged two plate appearances off the bench in Sunday's 8-7 win over Philadelphia in 11 innings. The fact that Atlanta is deploying Acuna at right field Monday rather than designated hitter seemingly supports that notion, and so long as he avoids any setbacks in his return to the lineup, he should be a mainstay in the starting nine throughout the week as the team looks to chase down the Mets for the National League East title.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Two PAs off bench Sunday
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Acuna (back) appeared as a pinch hitter Sunday against the Phillies, going 1-for-1 with a run, an RBI and a walk.
He entered as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and got another plate appearance in the 11th inning. Acuna last started a game Sept. 21 as the designated hitter as he deals with mid-back tightness. Atlanta starts a three-game series in Washington on Monday.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Out again Sunday
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Acuna (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
It's the fourth straight game on the bench for Acuna as he continues to manage mid-back tightness. Robbie Grossman will again shift to right field while Eddie Rosario starts in left.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Still on bench Saturday
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Acuna (back) isn't starting Saturday against Philadelphia.
Acuna is still dealing with a back injury Saturday, and he'll be excluded from the lineup for a third consecutive game. Robbie Grossman will remain in right field and bat ninth.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Absent from Friday's lineup
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Acuna (back) isn't starting Friday against the Phillies.
Acuna was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to mid-back tightness, and he'll remain on the bench for a second consecutive game Friday. He's listed as day-to-day for now. Robbie Grossman will start in right field and bat ninth.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Late scratch Thursday
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Acuna was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Phillies due to mid-back tightness.
Acuna was removed from the lineup approximately half an hour before the start of Thursday's matchup, and it's unclear whether he'll be available off the bench. Robbie Grossman will shift to right field while Marcell Ozuna enters the lineup in left.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Supplies offense in win
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Acuna went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.
Acuna was Aaron Nola's biggest nemesis Saturday. In the third inning, Acuna popped a two-run home run, and he plated another pair of runs with a fourth-inning double. This was the outfielder's third multi-hit effort in his last five games, and he's gone yard in each of his last two contests. For the season, he's up to 13 homers, 28 stolen bases, 22 doubles, 45 RBI and 64 runs scored while maintaining a .271/.358/.417 slash line across 106 games.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Hits two-run homer
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Acuna went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-2 win over Philadelphia.
Acuna knocked in Eddie Rosario on a two-run go-ahead shot in the eighth inning. It would have been enough for the win, but Atlanta continued to pile it on that inning. It was Acuna's 12th homer of the season and his first since Aug. 31. This has been a down year for a perennial MVP candidate, largely due to injury. He is on pace to finish with his lowest home run total in a season aside from 2020's 14 homers. On the plus side, he has swiped 28 bags, the second-most in a season in his career.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Goes deep in return
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Acuna (knee) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Colorado.
Acuna missed three games with right knee discomfort, but he was able to rejoin the lineup as Atlanta's designated hitter Wednesday. The superstar outfielder looked healthy enough when he launched a 444-foot homer to center field in the fifth inning. The long ball was his first in the past 13 games and his 11th of the campaign overall. Acuna's power has dipped pretty significantly this season, but he's continued to produce fantasy value with 25 steals and a .274/.366/.413 slash line.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Back in lineup Wednesday
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Acuna (knee) is starting at designated hitter and batting leadoff Wednesday versus the Rockies.
After missing the last three contests with right knee discomfort, Acuna is ready to go for Wednesday's matchup. Prior to his three-game absence, the 24-year-old produced a five-game hit streak, going 7-for-22 with a double, three RBI and three runs over that stretch.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Absence downplayed
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Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Acuna, who is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies for a third straight game, is responding well to treatment for his sore right knee and is considered day-to-day, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Snitker suggested that Acuna's continued absence is out of an abundance of caution, with the skipper noting that he wouldn't hesitate to include the 24-year-old in the lineup if Atlanta was playing a postseason game. Acuna will be re-evaluated early Wednesday, and if he continues to show progress in his recovery from the knee injury, he could be included in the lineup later that night.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Expects to return Tuesday
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Acuna (knee), who isn't starting Sunday against the Cardinals, expects to return to Atlanta's lineup Tuesday against the Rockies, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game Sunday but is expected to be available off the bench. However, the 24-year-old should be back in action for Tuesday's series opener following a two-game absence. Over his last five games, he's hit .318 with a double, three runs, three RBI, two walks and five strikeouts.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Gets another day to rest knee
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Acuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that the outfielder is getting some time off to rest his sore right knee, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
He was also out of the lineup Saturday, but unless his condition took a dramatic turn for the worse in the past 24 hours, the 24-year-old is likely just receiving some extra maintenance for his surgically repaired right knee. Acuna, who also missed a game earlier this month due to the sore knee, is expected to be ready to rejoin the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies following a team off day Monday. Robbie Grossman will shift over from left field to replace Acuna in right field Sunday.
