Acuna went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros.
It took 17 games, but last year's NL MVP finally went deep in 2024, as Acuna got hold of a J.P. France sweeper to lead off the fifth inning and launched it 422 feet to straightaway center field. Despite the slow start in the power department, the 26-year-old has still been very productive from a fantasy perspective, slashing .294/.400/.397 with six RBI, eight steals and 17 runs scored -- third in the Senior Circuit behind Mookie Betts (22) and Ketel Marte (20).
... See More... See Less
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Nabs two more steals Friday
Rotowire
Acuna went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Friday's 8-1 win over the Marlins.
The reigning NL MVP has erupted for five steals in the last three games, giving him six on the season in six attempts. Acuna's still trying to get going at the plate, however, slashing .255/.375/.298 through 12 games while looking for his first homer of 2024.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Runs wild in Tuesday's win
Rotowire
Acuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and three stolen bases in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Mets.
After going eight straight games without even attempting a steal, Acuna broke out on the basepaths, swiping all three bags against the battery of Adrian Houser and backup catcher Omar Narvaez. The reigning NL MVP is batting just .256 (10-for-39) in the early going and is still looking for his first homer of 2024, but Acuna has scored 15 runs in 10 contests while adding four RBI and four stolen bases.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Swipes first bag of 2024
Rotowire
Acuna went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 9-3 win over the Phillies.
The minor knee injury Acuna dealt with early in the spring appears to be a non-issue to begin the regular season, and last year's NL MVP singled in his first plate appearance of 2024 before promptly swiping second base. Acuna stole a career-high 73 bases last year to go with his 41 homers, and bad luck on the health front is likely the only thing that might prevent him from posting monster numbers again.
Acuna will start in right field for Atlanta on Sunday for its split-squad game versus the Red Sox, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Acuna returned from his right knee injury in the designated hitter spot Thursday, but this will be his first time playing the outfield since late February. The team and the player seem to have zero concerns at this point about his knee flare-up, so fantasy managers shouldn't have any reservations about clicking Acuna's name at first overall.
Acuna (knee) went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
Seeing his first game action since Feb. 29, Acuna looked a little rusty at the plate and fanned twice against Zack Littell, but the important thing is that he was back in the lineup. The 2023 NL MVP was limited to DH duties Thursday, but he hit in his usual leadoff spot and Atlanta will ease him back into defensive duties over the next few days. Acuna is back on track to be ready for Opening Day.
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Returns to Grapefruit League play
Rotowire
Acuna (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff Thursday in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna wound up missing two weeks of game action with his right knee injury and will have the next two weeks to get ramped back up before Opening Day. The reigning National League MVP will be eased back into the fold as a designated hitter, but he should resume roaming right field soon.
Acuna (knee) took live batting practice again Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said afterward that Acuna's right knee feels fine and the club is just waiting for the medical staff to clear the superstar to return to Grapefruit League play. Alarm bells were sounded this spring when Acuna developed some irritation in his knee, one that he had surgically repaired in the past, but he's avoided a serious injury and it would appear he's basically back to 100 percent.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker downplayed the idea that Acuna might run less this season due to his spring knee issue, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "He's still young and he's still at an age where he can still [steal a lot of bases]," Snitker said Thursday. "He's going to reach a time where he's going to slow down on his own. For now, you've just got to let a kid like that loose and let him play his game."
Acuna hasn't seen Grapefruit League action since Feb. 29 due to soreness in his right knee, but Atlanta is still confident that he'll be ready for Opening Day, and Snitker's comments further reinforce that the team has no long-term concerns about the injury. The 26-year-old superstar became the first player in MLB history to record a 40-70 season in 2023, and no player has ever produced back-to-back 40-40 campaigns, giving Acuna a new milestone to aim for in 2024.
