Ronald Acuña Jr. might not be back in the Atlanta Braves lineup just yet. Still, it sure feels like we’re getting episodic updates before every series, like some sort of suspenseful baseball docuseries.
Monday’s developments? A bit chaotic, a little confusing, but ultimately good news for the reigning National League MVP and Braves fans everywhere.
No L.A. Trip for Acuña
Here’s how it went down. First, the Braves told reporters Monday morning that Acuña would need to make one last trip to Los Angeles to visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the same surgeon who handled his ACL repair. It seemed routine enough.
But then, less than 90 minutes before first pitch against the Reds, the plot took a turn. According to The Athletic’s David O’Brien, the Braves did a full 180 and said, never mind—Acuña wouldn’t need to fly to L.A. after all. ElAttrache gave the green light from afar, leaving the ball club in charge of when Acuña can start his rehab assignment.
So what does that mean? It means the runway is now clear. While the Braves haven’t pinned down a start date for Acuña’s rehab stint, they did confirm it will begin this month.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman speculated we could see Acuña back in the big league lineup by late May, which is much better than any delay that might’ve come from a surgeon-visit detour.
It’s a little weird that the Braves jumped the gun on the initial update, but hey—if you’re going to walk something back, at least make sure the second version is the good one.
No Mound Time Yet for Strider
As for another Braves cornerstone—Spencer Strider—the updates weren’t as definitive, but they were at least trending positive. After being sidelined again with a hamstring strain just one start into his return from an elbow procedure, Strider is back to throwing long toss, according to manager Brian Snitker.
Let’s be clear: he hasn’t thrown off a mound since April 21. That’s the not-so-fun part. There’s still no timetable for when he’ll take that next step. But Snitker seemed optimistic about the progress so far, calling the hamstring issue a “freak thing” that just happened despite doing everything right.
The Clock’s Ticking, But Braves Are Trending
If you’re the Braves, here’s the takeaway: your MVP doesn’t need another surgeon’s visit and is nearing a rehab assignment. That’s huge.
Meanwhile, your ace is progressing slowly, but steadily, with no signs of setbacks. It’s not perfect, but it’s far from a crisis.
And for Acuña? If you’re rehabbing an ACL for the second time in four seasons, every day that moves you closer to game action without a hitch is a small victory. Late May is starting to feel realistic.
Don’t be surprised if there’s another update by the first pitch in the next series.
