MLB

Ronald Acuna Jr Has Been Impressive In His Return To The Braves Lineup

Author photo
By
Anthony Cardenas
Author photo
Anthony Cardenas Sports Editor

Get to know Anthony Cardenas better
Sports Editor

Published13 hours ago on May 24, 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.

One of baseball’s most talented stars has missed plenty of action over the past few years while dealing with injuries. But after nearly a full year away from the game while recovering from a brutal knee injury, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves has come back in a big way during the team’s weekend series against the San Diego Padres.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice In First Two Games Back

It was the second major injury for Acuna Jr. since 2021. He tore the ACL in his right knee that year and played in just 82 games, but managed to make an impressive enough comeback to be able to win NL MVP during the 2023 campaign.

But disaster struck again early on in 2024. After playing in 48 games, he tore the ACL in his other knee, which forced an even longer absence than the first. He began the current campaign on the injured list while continuing his rehab, but was cleared and returned to action on Friday night as Atlanta welcomes San Diego for a three-game weekend set.

He wasted no time getting back into the swing of things. On the first pitch that he had seen in 362 days, Ronald Acuna Jr. swung and connected on a pitch from Nick Pivetta, which sailed into the left-centerfield bleachers for a home run. The home crowd in Atlanta went crazy, welcoming their star back into the lineup.

It wound up being the only run of the game for the Braves, who lost 2-1.

But Acuna Jr wasn’t done. In Saturday’s matinée contest, the returning slugger hit yet another home run, this time in the 6th inning of a game that ended up being a rout in favor of the Braves. It was his only hit on the day, and he did wind up striking out three times in his five plate appearances.

Braves Looking To Turn Around Early Season Struggles

Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Braves are hoping to regain their status as a World Series contender that they entered the 2025 season with. Things looked rough in the early going, as Atlanta inexplicably lost their first seven games on the schedule, and were 5-13 over the first three weeks.

They’ve figured things out lately as players have returned to the active lineup, and there was a stretch in late April and early May in which they won 12 of 17 games. They now have a 25-26 record after Saturday’s victory, good enough for third place in the NL East. Atlanta 8 games out of first place in their division, and 3.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot in the National League.