Atlanta Braves fans are breathing a sigh of relief as their superstar outfielder will finally return to the lineup during Thursday's Spring Training game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ronald Acuña Jr. only appeared in a handful of games before dealing with some soreness in his right knee after being involved in a rundown during a game. That knee was the one that was surgically repaired back in 2021. Luckily, it only ended up being irritation in his meniscus and nothing serious.
The Venezuelan native took some time off to give the knee some rest. Atlanta took things one day at a time and slowly got him back to baseball activities. Brian Snitker noted he was listening closely to the Braves training staff to determine the right time to bring him back to the lineup.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is leading off for the #Braves today. He's DH'ing in his first game action since February 29. He has the next two weeks to tune up the band for Opening Day. pic.twitter.com/4Cuq1mhrSj
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) March 14, 2024
When Acuña returned to camp after a visit to his surgeon in Los Angeles, he was itching to get back in the lineup and was cracking jokes with the media about it. That alone showed it was a minor setback and didn't dampen his spirits.
It's good to see the team is confident enough to put him back in there. He will be the designated hitter for Thursday's game that way Ronald isn't doing too much too soon. There are exactly two weeks left until the Braves head to Philly to begin the regular season.
They'll want their MVP to be healthy and ready to contribute to the team's push for another World Series title. He's already been projected to lead the league in stolen bases in 2024. That shows just how valuable he is to this team.
Another important note for the Atlanta lineup is Austin Riley. Riley had missed a few days of action due to being sick but he also returns to the lineup on Thursday. It's been a great Spring for the Braves third baseman, who is on a mission to earn a Gold Glove or MVP this season.
He and Acuña are important pieces to this Atlanta lineup so we need them to be as healthy as possible heading into the long haul of a baseball season. Atlanta takes on the Rays starting at 1:05 PM EST with Chris Sale starting on the mound.
You can listen to the game on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or watch a live stream online via the Atlanta Braves website.