The Atlanta Braves wrapped up a solid weekend with an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday, taking two out of three in the series and improving to 57-41 on the season.
It was another productive day at Truist Park, with the offense showing plenty of life, but the postgame buzz centered on some encouraging news for one of the team’s biggest stars.
Manager Walt Weiss provided an update on Ronald Acuña Jr., who has been sidelined since June 9 with an injury. According to Weiss, the dynamic outfielder is progressing well and is expected to rejoin the big-league club later this week.
When he does return, the plan is for him to see most of his time in right field, though he’ll first get in a few more games with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers to sharpen up.
Acuña was having a typically impactful season before the setback, hitting .251 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 31 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 53 games.
Now in his ninth year with the Braves—all of them spent in Atlanta—he remains one of the most electric players in the game when healthy. Fans have been eagerly awaiting his comeback, and this latest timeline feels like a real step forward.
That said, the decision to have him primarily in the outfield has sparked some debate online. Several supporters voiced concerns about potential re-injury risks, with some suggesting a heavier emphasis on the designated hitter role to ease him back in.
Others appreciated the cautious approach of extra minor-league reps but still hoped the team would be smart about managing his workload. It’s clear the fanbase is protective of their star, knowing how valuable he is when everything is clicking.
With Acuña’s return on the horizon, the Braves head into a big series against the San Diego Padres starting Monday night.
Sitting atop the National League East, Atlanta will look to keep the momentum going as they push through the second half of the season.
A healthy, productive Acuña could be exactly what this lineup needs to make a deeper run. Baseball fans everywhere will be watching closely to see how quickly he ramps back up.
Of course, staying healthy has been a major issue for Acuña over the years, as he has not played 100 games since 2023 and has only done so four times since entering the majors in 2018.
