Struggling Braves Receive Massive Ronald Acuna Jr. Boost as MLB Insider Drops Huge Update on $100M Star

Two weeks ago, Ronald Acuna Jr. stood in a doctor’s office and received the words Braves fans had been desperate to hear: cleared to resume baseball activities. With that, he was bound for Florida, headed to the team’s spring complex to begin the next chapter of his recovery. But then—silence. No updates. Just a growing sense of suspense. The Braves have been forced to march on without their superstar, missing the electricity only Acuna can provide. But as the days tick by and the whispers grow louder, one thing feels inevitable: something is building.

The calm won’t last forever. Yes, Ronald Acuna Jr. is coming.

For starters, the Braves are navigating one of the most brutal stretches of player absences in recent memory. All-Star starter Reynaldo Lopez has hit the shelf with a shoulder injury. Jurickson Profar, their leadoff spark and steady presence in left field, is gone for 80 games following a suspension. Spencer Strider, the team’s electric ace, is out indefinitely. It’s a storm few teams could weather—and yet, amid the chaos, a flicker of hope remains.

Now Acuna is nearing a return, and with him, the promise of a spark the Braves desperately need. But as the days pass with no clear timetable, the question looms larger: when will that spark finally ignite? “The Braves haven’t set a specific timetable for Ronald Acuna Jr.’s return. But the 2023 NL MVP could return to Atlanta’s lineup by the end of May,” MLB insider Mark Bowman updated.

It’s the update Braves fans have been waiting for, and though a few hurdles remain—clearance steps before a rehab assignment, mainly—Acuna’s comeback seems to be gaining momentum. His presence alone could shift the trajectory of Atlanta’s season.

So, Acuna wasn’t at his best before tearing his ACL in May 2024, but his ceiling is undeniable. Just one season earlier, he was the best player in baseball. 41 homers, 73 stolen bases, 106 RBIs, and a .337 batting average in an MVP campaign for the ages. That version of Acuna is what the Braves are hoping to welcome back, and his return couldn’t come at a better time.

Despite the injuries, Atlanta has shown resilience. Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, and Austin Riley have carried the offensive load, helping the Braves go 7–3 in their last 10 games. Now sitting at 14–17 and third in the NL East, they’re staying afloat—but they know what kind of spark Acuna can provide. If he returns at full strength, he doesn’t just make the Braves better. He changes everything.

The Braves’ mixed-bag performance just needs an Acuna push

The season began for the Braves with a 0–7 skid, during which their offense was notably sluggish. In one stretch, they scored only nine runs over six games, with a team batting line of .137/.228/.220 and a wRC+ of 36. Issues included a lack of power, ranking near the bottom in home runs, and difficulties hitting with runners in scoring position. 

Now that is the thing of the past, the Braves are poised for a potential upswing. However, is all going fine for the Braves? No! Currently, the team is ranked 13th in terms of BA (.245) and 17th in terms of total runs scored (127). That’s anything but impressive. Return of Acuna might help a bit in this case, but what about the Braves’ pitching?

The Braves’ pitching staff has encountered significant challenges in the early part of the 2025 season, contributing to their current 14–17 record. As of late April, the Braves’ pitching ranks 18th in MLB in ERA (4.22), indicating struggles across both starting and relief roles. The return of Spencer Strider might also bring a fortune here. However, the projections suggest the Braves could improve to have the fifth-best pitching staff moving forward, assuming key players return to form. The anticipated returns could provide the necessary boost to stabilize the rotation and bullpen.

Looking ahead, the Braves should perform better with Acuna returning by this month. Do you think Acuna’s hitting can offer a better opportunity for the Braves to lead the division? 

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