Ronald Acuña Jr. is back smiling and cracking jokes amidst being sidelined
On March 1st, Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the lineup due to right knee soreness. The Braves stated that it was a preventive measure and that the discomfort was due to soreness. He damaged the same knee in 2021, so there were some concerns.
Atlanta got the best news possible on Tuesday morning. It turns out he has some discomfort in his right knee, but he is on track to be ready for Opening Day 2024.
If this news doesn’t cheer you up, perhaps these usual Ronald Acuna Jr. antics will. Alden Gonzalez, an ESPN baseball reporter, wrote on X (previously known as Twitter) Tuesday morning that Acuna approached him with his bat as a cane. Acuna Jr. then laughed and resumed walking normally, claiming that he feels fine and hopes to return to the lineup today.
We are all aware that Acuna is a passionate competitor who wants to be on the field all the time. Keeping him out of Spring Training for a little longer is the best decision for the time being to ensure he is ready for the regular season in 2024.
When Ronald Acuna Jr. is on the baseball field, he only knows one speed: full speed. His participation in any way during Spring Training may exacerbate the discomfort. As the season approaches, this is something to watch out for.
Given the knee stiffness, Acuna may be unable to steal as many bases or have a reduced range in the outfield if he is not fully recovered. However, early reports indicate that his knee will not hinder him come Opening Day. It’s wonderful to know Acuna can find humor in something that’s giving so many people grief.
If you were to compile a list of the players the Atlanta Braves could not afford to lose, Ronald Acuna Jr. would be at the top. The defending NL MVP is an integral element of the Braves’ offense and the intensity they bring to every game. Even with a lineup as potent as the Braves’, a player like that cannot be replaced.
Unfortunately, that prospect is currently very much in play. Acuna Jr. was removed from the lineup yesterday owing to knee soreness severe enough to warrant a doctor’s visit. When the initial scans revealed some irritation in his meniscus, he will now consult Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles to ensure that nothing else is going on.
Given that Acuna Jr. previously suffered a significant knee injury in the same knee, it appears like the Braves are simply being as cautious as they should with him. ElAttrache is the same doctor who conducted his previous knee surgery, so sending him back to ensure everything is structurally okay makes perfect sense and does not necessarily indicate a larger problem.
So far, the Braves appear to assume that this is a temporary setback and that Acuna Jr. will be ready for the regular season. Given that the first round of scans did not reveal any tears, Ronald appears to have simply tweaked his knee and may require some time to calm down. The Braves may put up with a brief spell in the IL.
