Ahead of today’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves updated reporters on the rehabilitation progress of outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who is still recovering from last year’s season-ending knee surgery.
The most notable update is that Acuña Jr. will not need to make another trip to Los Angeles to consult with his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Multiple sources, including the AJC’s Justin Toscano, confirmed that the Braves spoke with ElAttrache today, and he confirmed that Acuña Jr. does not need to visit him before starting a rehab assignment.
While there were earlier reports suggesting Acuña Jr. would undergo another evaluation today, the latest information makes it plausible that the 2023 NL MVP could rejoin the Braves lineup before the month’s end, according to Braves’ MLB.com writer Mark Bowman.
Though this update doesn’t provide the exact date fans were hoping for regarding Acuña Jr.’s rehab assignment, it’s still positive progress. Despite Atlanta’s ongoing offensive struggles this season, which could have pressured the team to rush Acuña Jr.’s return, the Braves are maintaining a cautious and calculated approach in bringing their star player back following his second major knee surgery of the decade.
