The wait is finally over, Atlanta Braves fans. After a long year of healing, Ronald Acuña Jr. is ready to make his return. Acuña has been waiting for his chance to return and remind all of Major League Baseball just how great he is.
Seeing him go down in a heap in Pittsburgh last season was extremely hard to watch. Many fans wondered if he'd be the same player once he returned, and that's a fair concern. However, he's eased some of those concerns a bit as he performed well in his rehab assignment.
Acuña Jr. was scratched from the Gwinnett Stripers lineup on Thursday night as it was reported the Braves planned on calling him up for their series against the Padres. That was confirmed Friday as they returned him from the IL. What was surprising, though, was that the corresponding roster move involved designating Orlando Arcia for assignment.
Braves finally return former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured list
Acuña Jr. batted .400 over 15 at-bats with two doubles, two home runs, two RBI, and seven walks. The only question was how well he would feel after playing a full game in the outfield. It appears the answer is very well.
As for Arcia, his fall from being one of the biggest bargains in baseball to a player that virtually every Braves fan has been startling. When the light-hitting Nick Allen beats you out for the starting shortstop job as a NRI, you know a guy is not in a good spot in the organization's eyes. This decision was a bit of a surprise, but only because it felt like if the team was going to do it, they would have last offseason.
Truist Park will be absolutely rocking as their superstar outfielder takes the field for the first time in 2025. The Braves will face a Padres team that has lost six games in a row and has been outscored 39-9 during that stretch. Given that San Diego helped the Braves to their historically terrible start of the season, this feels like a perfect opportunity for some revenge.
Atlanta's lineup has become much more dangerous with the addition of Acuña Jr.. He will be the most excited player on the field Friday night. You don't want to miss out on his season debut.