Braves reinstate Acuña ahead of Monday’s game with Marlins
MIAMI — Ronald Acuña Jr. is back.
Shortly after Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters inside the visitors’ dugout at loanDepot Park that the star outfielder was day-to-day, the club activated Acuña on Monday about 60 minutes before first pitch between the Marlins and Braves.
“He’s doing well. He ran around (Monday), and he’s certainly getting close,” Weiss said two hours before game time Monday. “I would probably list him more like day-to-day at this point.”
Turns out, Monday was part of that day-to-day definition.
Weiss cautioned against playing Acuña, who had been on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring, on the turf field at loanDepot park. Acuña tore an ACL in July of 2021 at the venue. However, he has also played plenty of times there since, and he and Venezuela clinched the World Baseball Classic championship at the stadium in March.
“The turf, a little bit tougher on soft tissue, hamstrings, quads, groins, that type of thing,” Weiss said. “It’s a factor. It’s not the factor, but it’s part of the equation when you’re talking about activating somebody.”
Weiss was also asked if there was any possibility as to whether Acuña would be activated at any point during this week’s series against the Marlins.
“I don’t think it’s out of the question, but I’m not as high in the hierarchy there to make that final call,” Weiss said. “But I trust the guys that are making that call.”
Acuña left a May 2 game at Coors Field in Denver against the Rockies and was placed on the 10-day IL the next day. He was hitting .252 with just two homers and nine RBIs with an OPS of .740.
Acuña was not inserted into Monday’s lineup — Mike Yastrzemski remained the starter in right field. It’s likely Acuña will get the start Tuesday against Marlins left-handed starting pitcher Braxton Garrett.
In a corresponding move Monday, the Braves placed infielder Kyle Farmer on the 10-day injured list, backdated to Saturday, with a strained right forearm. Farmer last played in Friday’s 3-2 win over the Red Sox, striking out as a pinch-hitter against Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman. Farmer was also on deck to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs before Chapman closed out a 3-2 win for the Sox.
Farmer, who had an MRI taken that confirmed the strain, has played in only 10 games for the Braves, and just three this month.
About the Author
