Acuna was cleared to ramp up activity Tuesday and begin progressing towards a rehab assignment, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Acuna's scheduled meeting with doctors in Los Angeles appears to have gone well, as he went in seeking clearance to ramp up his running. Aside from increased running, he will likely add defensive drills in the outfield to practice as well. With the outfielder's green light to ramp up activity for progression toward a rehab assignment, he seems to be on schedule to return to action for Atlanta within the next month.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Getting checkup early next week
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Acuna (knee) will have a checkup with doctors in Los Angeles early next week and is expected to be cleared for lateral movements and change-of-direction running, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
After Acuna ramps up his running, it will be determined when he will begin a rehab assignment, and clarity on a timeline for return should be established. To this point, early-to-mid-May has been viewed as an approximate timetable for his season debut. Acuna is working his way back from left ACL surgery.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Checkup coming soon
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Acuna (knee) is scheduled to meet with doctors in Los Angeles in the upcoming days with the hope of receiving final clearance to begin ramping up his running, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
Acuna took batting practice and was able to do most baseball activities during spring training, but he's still waiting to get the green light to perform defensive drills in the outfield and change-of-direction running. He seems to be on the cusp of being cleared for full activities, and once that happens, he'll likely steadily increase the intensity of his workouts over the next few weeks before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. Atlanta isn't putting a definitive timeline on when Acuna will be ready to make his 2025 debut as he works his way back from his second major knee surgery in three years, but he seems to be tracking toward an early-to-mid-May return at this stage.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: No outfield work yet
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Acuna (knee) has not yet been cleared for outfield work or any cutting drills, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Manager Brian Snitker noted Monday that the club will evaluate the leadoff spot on a day-to-day basis after news broke earlier that Jurickson Profar had been handed an 80-game suspension by MLB for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy, and the skipper took this opportunity to give a brief update on Acuna, who would presumably slot in to the leadoff spot once given a clean bill of health. The 27-year-old is still expected to make his return to the field sometime in May, though a more exact timetable for his return should surface once he embarks on a rehab assignment.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Shifts to injured list
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Atlanta placed Acuna (knee) on the 10-day injured list Monday.
The 27-year-old is expected to make his season debut in early or mid-May as he continues to rehab from ACL surgery, so his move to the IL was an inevitability. Acuna has been able to take part in most baseball activities during spring training but has yet to be cleared for game action. Once he begins a rehab assignment, there should be a better idea of when exactly Acuna will make his 2025 debut.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Hopes to debut early- to mid-May
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Acuna (knee) is on track to make his season debut for Atlanta in early- to mid-May, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Atlanta has been hesitant to place any timeline on Acuna's return from left ACL surgery, but Feinsand was told by sources that the former National League MVP is tracking toward a season debut during the first half of May. Acuna has been going through most baseball activities during spring camp but is not yet been cleared to play in games. He'll begin a rehab assignment sometime after Opening Day and could need all 20 days he's allotted in a minor-league setting before rejoining the Atlanta lineup.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Could steal fewer bases
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Acuna (knee) said Friday that he's planning to "take it easy" on the basepaths as he returns from left ACL surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Acuna estimated that he's running at "90 to 95 percent" and said his surgically repaired left knee feels much more stable than his right knee did following a prior ACL surgery. However, it sounds as though he does not intend to be as aggressive on the bases as he was before this most recent operation. While it's an understandable stance to take as Acuna tries to stay healthy, it does put a damper on his stolen base outlook for fantasy purposes. Acuna will not play in Grapefruit League games and is expected to miss roughly the first month of the season, although there's been no concrete timeline provided by Atlanta.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Won't be rushed back
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Acuna (knee) will be brought along cautiously by Atlanta in order to try and avoid the struggles he experienced in 2022, after his first ACL surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The star outfielder underwent surgery to repair his right ACL in July 2021 and was back in the lineup by April 28 the following season, but Acuna dealt with lingering soreness that year and wound up finishing 2022 with a disappointing .266/.351/.413 slash line over 119 regular-season games. This time around, Acuna is recovering from surgery on his left knee performed in June 2024, and while the extra month-plus of rehab will help, Atlanta still figures to be very careful with his return timeline. It wouldn't be a surprise if the 27-year-old didn't make his 2025 debut until early May.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Likely to miss first month
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Acuna (knee) is expected to miss the first month or so of the season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Everything appears to have gone swimmingly with Acuna's rehab from June 2024 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Atlanta is proceeding a bit more cautiously with Acuna than it did after his right ACL tear in 2021, and his timeline could conceivably be moved forward or backward based on how he looks and feels in spring training. Assuming Acuna does begin the season on the injured list, Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz are expected to split playing time in right field.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Unlikely to be ready Opening Day
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Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday it appears unlikely Acuna (knee) will be ready for Opening Day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Anthopoulos indicated last month that Acuna's readiness for Opening Day was in question, and now it appears things are trending toward a stint on the injured list as the outfielder continues his recovery from left ACL surgery. A timetable for Acuna's season debut remains vague, although Anthopoulos previously suggested it could come as late as early June. A more definitive timeline for Acuna might be available by spring training.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Opening Day still uncertain
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Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos indicated Friday that Acuna (knee) isn't a given to be ready for Opening Day next season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Anthopoulos noted that the club will be deliberate with Acuna's rehab from left ACL surgery, and while it's possible the outfielder is ready to play by Opening Day, his return could be pushed back as far as early June. Acuna's surgery took place in early June of this year, so he will be a little under 10 months removed from it once the regular season begins in 2025. While a timeline for the 26-year-old is fuzzy now, the picture should be clearer by spring training.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Atlanta transferred Acuna (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
The 26-year-old recently underwent season-ending surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee, so it was only a matter of time before he was moved to the 60-day IL to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Acuna will have nearly 10 months of recovery and rehab before Opening Day in 2025, so there's a chance he's ready for the start of next season.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Officially placed on injured list
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Atlanta placed Acuna (knee) on the 10-day injured list Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Acuna suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Sunday's 8-1 win in Pittsburgh and will undergo season-ending surgery in the coming days. He missed the second half of the 2021 season due to a torn ACL in his other knee and is now slated for another lengthy absence. Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall will likely be in line for additional at-bats in the corner outfield with Acuna out, though Atlanta could seek help from outside the organization.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Ruled out for season
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Acuna has been diagnosed with a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Acuna suffered a non-contact injury while trying to retreat to second base in the top of the first inning during Sunday's game against the Pirates. He missed the second half of the 2021 season due to a torn ACL in his right knee and now faces another lengthy recovery process. Over 48 games in 2024, Acuna slashed .246/.348/.356 with four homers, 38 runs, 16 steals and 15 RBI. Acuna will undergo surgery at an undisclosed date to address his ACL tear, while Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall should see additional playing time as the season progresses.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Could miss four-plus weeks
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Acuna (knee) said Sunday that he wouldn't be surprised if he misses a month, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna told reporters he was going on the 10-day injured list and said the discomfort is more like what he felt in 2018 than what he dealt with in 2021 when he tore his ACL. Acuna had a significant limp as he was moving around the clubhouse after Sunday's game, in which he collapsed in the top of the first inning when trying to go back to second base and needed assistance getting down the dugout stairs. He said he did not hear a pop, but Monday's MRI results still loom large. In Acuna's absence, Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall could play more against same-handed pitchers.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Set to go on IL
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Acuna (knee) told reporters following Sunday's 8-1 win over the Pirates that he will go on the 10-day injured list, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Acuna collapsed in the top of the first inning of Sunday's game after planting his left leg when trying to go back to second base. He exited with trainers following the injury and was helped down the dugout stairs. Acuna noted after the game that it didn't feel like the ACL tear he sustained in his right knee in 2021, which is good news for Atlanta, but the 26-year-old superstar will be sidelined for at least 10 days. Manager Brian Snitker said that the severity of Acuna's injury won't be known until he's evaluated Monday. Acuna is slashing .246/.348/.356 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 191 plate appearances this season.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Leaves game with left knee injury
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Acuna left in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Pirates due to a left knee soreness, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He doubled in his lone at-bat of the day.
Acuna went down in the top of the first inning Sunday after he planted his left leg trying to go back to second base on a steal attempt. He came off the field limping, though the injury isn't to the same knee that Acuna had surgically repaired in 2021. Jarred Kelenic came off the bench and entered the game in left field, with Adam Duvall shifting over to Acuna's usual spot in right field. Atlanta should have an update on Acuna's condition later Sunday or prior to Monday's series opener with the Nationals.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Records 15th steal
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Acuna went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.
The steal was Acuna's first since May 4, an unusually long drought without a theft for the speedy outfielder. He was caught on his only attempt over 12 games between steals. Acuna has struggled to get into a rhythm at the plate this season, slashing .247/.355/.351 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 36 runs scored and 15 steals over 203 plate appearances. Some regression from last year's 41-homer, 73-steal campaign was to be expected in 2024, but Acuna's career-low .706 OPS so far has been a brutal overcorrection.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Gets first day off of season
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Acuna is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Acuna is on the bench for the series finale, but his absence doesn't appear to be anything more than a much-needed maintenance day after he had started in right field in each of Atlanta's first 39 games of the season. Adam Duvall will step in as the starting right fielder in place of Acuna, who is in the midst of a cool stretch at the plate with just four hits in 31 at-bats over his last eight starts.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Finding stride at plate
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Acuna went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Mets.
He took Jose Quintana deep in the third inning, part of a four-run frame for Atlanta. Acuna may be turning things around at the plate -- after posting a 26.5 percent strikeout rate in April, he's fanned just 19.4 percent of the time through the first seven games in May. He's also batting .310 (9-for-29) to begin the month with two of his three homers on the season.
