The Atlanta Braves kicked off the 2025 campaign looking to rebound from a somewhat underwhelming 2024 season.
After six consecutive National League East titles from 2018 through 2023, the Braves saw their division streak come to an end, ultimately finishing 89-73 and in second place behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
Despite clinching a Wild Card spot, they were swept in two games by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series, marking an abrupt end to what had been, by their standards, a disappointing year.
Injuries played a significant role in Atlanta’s 2024 woes.
Most notably, star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a complete tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament on May 26, 2024, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of that season.
However, on Thursday, the Braves announced on X that Acuña, "is expected to be activated from the injured list tomorrow," noting how "his return will be 362 days following the ACL injury he sustained last season."
Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to be activated from the injured list tomorrow, per multiple reports.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 22, 2025
His return will be 362 days following the ACL injury he sustained last season. pic.twitter.com/KoJZqBmrI1
In 2024, prior to the injury, Acuña had appeared in just 49 games, posting a .250 batting average with four home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 16 stolen bases.
A native of La Guaira, Venezuela, Acuña signed with Atlanta as an international free agent in 2014, and in 2018, he made his major league debut, becoming the youngest active MLB player (20 years old). He captured the National League Rookie of the Year Award by season's end.
He followed this up with four All-Star selections (2019, 2021-2023), three Silver Slugger awards (2019, 2020, 2023) and two National League stolen base titles (2019, 2023).
In 2023, Acuña won the NL MVP following a historic 40-70 season (41 home runs, 73 stolen bases) that made him the first player in MLB history to join the 40-70 club and set a modern-era franchise stolen base record.
Through the end of the 2024 season, Acuña’s career line stood at a .289 batting average, 165 homers, 417 RBIs, and 196 stolen bases over 815 hits.
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