Ronald Acuna Jr. lit up Major League Baseball with an unforgettable season just a year ago, leaving fans and analysts in awe of his historic achievement.
The Atlanta Braves star outfielder became the first player in MLB history to combine 40 home runs with 70 stolen bases in a single season, earning his first National League MVP Award. However, after another devastating setback with his second torn ACL, Acuña is facing the tough reality that his future might look different than his jaw-dropping past.
In a candid conversation with reporters, Acuña reflected on the uncertainty surrounding his return to full form. “I think [I’m] going to be patient,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “We’re really going to focus on my hitting and fielding and anything I can do to help the team win.” It’s clear that while he remains confident in his ability to contribute at a high level, the days of effortlessly swiping 40 or 50 bags may be behind him. “I just don’t know how that’s going to play out,” he added.
Acuña’s return to the MVP stage last year was nothing short of remarkable. Given that he had already overcome a torn right ACL that sidelined him for much of 2021, his performance was truly impressive. Yet, just when it seemed he was back to his best, disaster struck again.
During a May 26 game in Pittsburgh, Acuña tore his left ACL while running the bases—a brutal blow for a player whose speed and power are central to his game. Now, with two surgically repaired knees, the question is whether Acuña can remain as dynamic as he once was. The hope is that he will be ready to go by the start of the 2025 season, but Acuña knows better than to rush things.
Sorry💔😪
— Ronald Acuña Jr. (@ronaldacunajr24) May 27, 2024
“I’m just going to be a little more cautious and careful with it,” he explained. For a player as electric as Acuña, playing cautiously feels almost contradictory to his nature. Yet, he’s committed to listening to his body and the medical staff. “If the team and the doctors tell me I’m ready to go and I go out there and I don’t feel good… then I will say something.”
As Spring Training approaches, Acuña’s status remains a bit of a mystery, even to him. “If I’m feeling good, everyone knows I’m going to want to play, I’m going to want to be out there,” he said. But everything hinges on how that knee feels once he’s back on the field.
Despite the long road ahead, Acuña has kept a positive outlook while rehabbing in Los Angeles. Fortunately, his absence hasn’t derailed the Braves, who’ve stayed in postseason contention. Braves did so without several key players, including Spencer Strider and Austin Riley. “It feels good to continue to have that success,” Acuña said, before adding, “No one is irreplaceable in baseball. Injuries are a part of the game.”
For Braves fans, Acuña’s recovery is a storyline worth following closely. There’s also the inevitable debate over his historic season compared to Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking 50-plus homers and 50-plus steals campaign this year. Asked for his thoughts on the comparison, Acuña diplomatically passed the ball to the media: “That’s a good question, but I think that’s a debate for you guys to talk about.”
While Acuna works to return to the field, the Braves are proving they have depth and resilience. But make no mistake, Ronald Acuna Jr. is a player whose impact is nearly impossible to replace, and when he’s back, he’ll still be a force to be reckoned with—knee injuries or not.
