Atlanta Braves fans can breathe a sigh of relief regarding Ronald Acuña Jr.’s health. The Braves announced on Tuesday that the reigning NL MVP recently consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who confirmed that Acuña is experiencing irritation in his right knee’s meniscus.
Acuña is now scheduled to incrementally ramp up his baseball activities and is anticipated to be ready for Opening Day on March 28, as per the team’s statement. Acuña himself confirmed the news, stating on Tuesday that he was feeling good and even joked with reporters about his knee.
Ronald Acuña Jr. approached us today leaning on his bat as if it were a cane and then cracked a big smile and started walking normally. He feels fine and wishes he could play today. pic.twitter.com/e5H3vs9S8V
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 5, 2024
Acuña was recently pulled from a spring game due to knee soreness, leading to tests that revealed irritation in his meniscus. This is concerning because it’s the same knee where he tore his ACL in 2021, causing him to miss the entire season.
Fortunately, the good news is that Acuña’s current issue isn’t more severe. However, the meniscus irritation may need ongoing management, especially considering his reliance on speed for baserunning and outfield coverage. This development means the Braves have one less injury concern to manage among their roster of players with injury risks.
