Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is slated to return to the lineup Thursday night after a brief absence caused by a fouled ball off his left shin.
The star right fielder sat out Wednesday’s contest against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park after leaving Tuesday’s game with what the club described as a left shin contusion.
Before the series finale, scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EDT, the Braves informed reporters that Acuña would be back in right field.
The update came after Acuña participated in batting practice Wednesday and walked without a noticeable limp, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
The episode was the latest in a season already marked by time missed. Acuña spent nearly three months on the injured list with a left hamstring strain.
In 104 games this year, he has posted a .259/.352/.462 slash line with 20 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
At 28, Acuña remains one of the most decorated players of his generation. He debuted with Atlanta in 2018 and has since collected an MVP award, three Silver Slugger honors, the Rookie of the Year trophy and five All-Star selections.
Over nine major-league seasons, he has produced 30.4 wins above replacement, a .286/.380/.517 career line, 206 home runs, 514 RBI and 225 stolen bases. Those numbers have come despite a lengthy injury history that includes two torn ACLs and other significant absences.
The timing of his return matters for a Braves club that has already locked up the National League East with a 93-65 record. The Milwaukee Brewers have secured one of the top two seeds in the league.
One more win by the Los Angeles Dodgers or one more Atlanta loss would give Los Angeles the other top-two seed, leaving the Braves likely to host the final wild-card qualifier in the opening round of the postseason.
If the regular season ended today, that opponent would be the Philadelphia Phillies.
For a team preparing for October baseball, having Acuña healthy and in the lineup is more than a box-score convenience.
His combination of power, speed and defensive range in right field remains central to Atlanta’s identity even after a year of interruptions.
Thursday’s game against Cincinnati offers the first chance to see whether the shin issue is truly behind him as the Braves close the regular season and turn their attention to the playoffs.
