Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss isn’t betting on Ronald Acuña Jr. being back in the lineup anytime soon. According to Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Weiss called it a “long shot” that Acuña returns before the All-Star break. The star outfielder has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, and while the team hasn’t officially ruled out a sooner return, the odds are clearly stacked against it.
The Braves have no reason to rush him. Hamstring issues can linger and turn into bigger problems if pushed. Atlanta’s bigger priority is having Acuña healthy for the second half and a playoff run, not a few extra games in July. Even if his performance was a bit uneven before the injury — he was still Ronald Acuña Jr., which means he can flip a game on its head any night. The ceiling is that high.
There is some positive news, though. Acuña got through a full pregame workout in right field on Tuesday before Atlanta’s matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals, per Bishop. That’s at least a step in the right direction, even if it doesn’t mean he’s close to game action.
Meanwhile, the Braves have hit a bit of a rough patch after a scorching start to the season. They’re still sitting in first place in the NL East at 49-33, but the play has been sloppier lately. Getting Acuña back would obviously steady things, but they’ll have to hold the line without him for a little longer.
Atlanta opens a three-game set against the Cardinals on Tuesday night at Truist Park. First pitch is at 7:15 PM EST. St. Louis comes in at 43-38, sitting third in the NL Central, so it’s hardly a pushover series. The Braves will need contributions up and down the lineup to keep pace.
We’ll keep tracking Acuña’s status as more updates come in. For now, the All-Star break looks like the target, with maybe a little more time after that before he’s truly ready to roll.
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