When Ronald Acuña Jr. limped off the field Tuesday night in Kansas City, Atlanta Braves fans held their breath. Given his injury history—two ACL tears in the past four years—the sight of Acuña hobbling through the outfield and visibly emotional after the game triggered immediate fears of another devastating setback. This time, the concern was centered around his right Achilles tendon.
But according to the latest update from MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Braves Country just got a rare dose of good news: Acuña’s Achilles is not torn.
Acuña May Return in Mid-August
Bowman reported that early testing revealed no sign of a significant tear, and while Acuña remains on the injured list, the timetable for return is relatively short—possibly 2–3 weeks. That’s about as optimistic as it gets, considering how bad things looked in the moment.
“Acuña’s discomfort is in the upper Achilles/lower right calf region,” Bowman wrote on X. “Preliminary tests provided no reason to believe he has a significant injury… If results match current expectations, there’s a chance Acuña could play again in 2–3 weeks.”
An MRI is still pending to confirm the findings, but the early signs are promising.
A Scary Scene, Given Acuña’s Injury Past
The moment wasn’t just physically painful—it was emotionally gutting. Acuña, who’s already battled back from serious knee injuries in both legs, spoke to reporters Tuesday night, fighting back tears.
“Of course. It’s an injury. I’m worried,” Acuña told reporters, via Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game. He also revealed he’d first noticed some tightness in the area a day earlier, but chose to play through it.
“I think it definitely got worse today. I told them yesterday, and everyone said, ‘Hey, take the day if you want it. You can have the day off.’ But I’ve just missed so much time already through injuries—I don’t want to miss any more time.”
That mindset speaks volumes about how much Acuña wants to be out there, especially in a season that’s been defined more by injury reports and trade rumors than wins.
The Bigger Picture for Atlanta
Realistically, the Braves are out of the playoff race. A once-promising season has been decimated by injuries to the rotation, a shaky offense, and the cumulative toll of missed time from key stars like Acuña.
But make no mistake: Acuña’s health is critical for 2026 and beyond. A torn Achilles would’ve meant months of recovery and possibly missing a chunk of next season—at age 27, in the prime of his career. Avoiding that kind of long-term damage? That’s the real win.
What Comes Next For the Braves
Pending MRI confirmation, Acuña will remain on the IL and continue treatment for what’s being described as Achilles/calf tightness. If the Braves are smart—and they usually are—they won’t rush him back.
There’s no playoff urgency, and with Atlanta already playing a patchwork lineup, the last thing this team needs is another setback for its franchise cornerstone.
But if all goes well, expect Acuña to return for a handful of games in late August or early September, just to get back into rhythm before heading into the offseason healthy.
For Braves fans, this isn’t just good news—it’s a sigh of relief. And after the year this team has had, they’ll take that any way they can get it.
