Braves activating Ronald Acuna Jr. ahead of Mets series

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Braves activating Ronald Acuna Jr. ahead of Mets series

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Jul 27, 2026 10:48 AM ET

After a successful week-long rehab assignment, the Atlanta Braves are reportedly ready to activate superstar right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. ahead of their series against the New York Mets.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is being activated

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Atlanta will be activating right fielder Ronald Acuna prior to Monday night's game.

Acuna has been out of action since June 9 when he suffered a hamstring injury, his second of the season. Acuna also missed two weeks of time from May 3-18 with a hamstring injury.

Now, after rehabbing the second hamstring injury for a bit longer, Acuna is ready to return to a Braves lineup that has been among the best in baseball this season.

Ronald Acuna Jr. will be activated by the Braves today.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 27, 2026

What will the lineup construction look like?

Acuna has hit leadoff in nearly every game over the previous six seasons of his career, but will that still remain the case when he returns on Monday?

Atlanta's all-star catcher Drake Baldwin has been in the leadoff spot for most of Acuna's absence and he's done an excellent job there. In 101 at-bats in the leadoff spot, Baldwin is slashing .307/.423/.584, good for a 1.007 OPS with nine home runs and 21 RBI.

Baldwin has also spent plenty of time in the No. 2 spot for the Braves this season and has succeeded there as well to the tune of a .285/.360/.497 slash line with 11 home runs and 33 RBI.

Manager Walt Weiss has options

With Baldwin having such a successful season, manager Walt Weiss has his share of options on how to construct the lineup when Acuna officially returns.

The likely scenario would be Acuna returning to the leadoff spot and setting the table for Baldwin and the other thumpers in the Atlanta lineup.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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