Braves Make Ronald Acuna Jr. Decision Amid Rehab Assignment

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Braves Make Ronald Acuna Jr. Decision Amid Rehab Assignment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Xavier Constantino | Last updated Jul 26, 2026 1:46 PM ET

Ronald Acuna Jr. is not walking through the doors at Truist Park just yet, but Monday looks like the day.

The Atlanta Braves right fielder, out since June 10 with a left hamstring strain, is expected to finish his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett through the end of Atlanta's series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Braves are instead planning to activate Acuna Monday, when they open a series against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Acuna began his rehab assignment on July 13 with the Florida Complex League Braves before heading to Gwinnett, working his way back from the second hamstring setback this season.

Happy first day of Shark Week to all who celebrate. Let’s have ourselves a day

: Gwinnett Field
⏰: 1:05pm
/: https://t.co/cmnejywP0P
️: https://t.co/8SMuHRgOx0 pic.twitter.com/nTuYABF0UK
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) July 26, 2026

Across rehab stints, Acuna is batting .217 with one home run; numbers manager Walt Weiss has downplayed the numbers given the priority is making sure the five-time All-Star is physically ready. A rainout Friday pushed the timeline back further, and the Stripers responded by scheduling a doubleheader Saturday, when Acuna played just the first game.

Before the injury, Acuna appeared in 53 games for Atlanta, batting .251 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. The Braves are 16-21 since their star outfielder hit the IL on June 10, though the club enters Sunday atop the National League East at 61-43.

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Atlanta has gone 6-2 since the All-Star break entering the weekend, showing that they can manage wins without Acuna, but the team plays better when he is healthy.

If Acuna is activated Monday as expected, he would rejoin a Braves lineup that looks to hold off the field down the stretch.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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