Ronald Acuna Jr. limped back to the dugout last night after striking out in what was likely his final rehab game with the Gwinnett Stripers, sending a wave of panic through Braves country. But hold up: Braves beat writer Mark Bowman just dropped the update this morning, confirming Acuna is absolutely fine, and that whole scare should have zero impact on his imminent return to the lineup. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions for fans!
Panic Over: That Limp Was Not a Reinjury
Social media went wild last night, as it always does, after video dropped of Acuna leaving the field with a noticeable limp. Everyone instantly assumed the worst: a reinjury of his left hamstring, the very thing that had sidelined him. But here’s the kicker, the detail everyone missed in their untethered panic: Acuna is rehabbing a *left* hamstring injury. The limp last night was clearly from his *right* leg, looking like an ankle issue. It was not a reinjury for anyone who actually paid attention, and Bowman’s update today confirms it. What a relief, right? We’ve seen this dude go through some serious long-term stuff, so a fresh injury, especially after he was so close to coming back, would have been brutal.
What to Expect from Acuna’s Return to the Top of the Lineup
The best news? Acuna’s activation off the IL now looks totally imminent. We should expect him back at the top of the Braves lineup as early as tonight and no later than Sunday. When he’s clicking, he’s irreplaceable, boasting a rare combination of power and speed that few players in the game can match. But, and this is a big “but,” it might be smart to temper expectations on the base stealing front right out of the gates. This guy is coming off a second hamstring injury, and we’ve seen him be hesitant before when returning.
He’s an elite talent, though, and we fully expect him to be at full speed well before fantasy baseball playoffs. It shouldn’t take more than a few weeks for him to get his full confidence back on the bases. There’s also a chance we see him at DH a bit more for a while, especially on nights when Drake Baldwin is behind the plate. But let’s be real, as soon as Acuna is back in that Braves lineup, he’s back in your fantasy lineup. He could have a monster game any night, and we’ve literally seen him come back from serious injuries and blast the first pitch he sees over the wall. Get ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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