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Alden GonzalezMar 14, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
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- ESPN baseball reporter. Coated the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Ronald Acuña Jr. met with the Atlanta Braves’ scientific workforce at the afternoon of Would possibly 26 and burst into tears when he was once informed he had suffered an entire tear of the ACL in his left knee. However by the point his Venezuela-based instructor, Juan Aular, heard from him later that evening, Acuña was once composed. He had permitted his destiny, taken convenience in realizing exactly what to anticipate and was once satisfied a greater model of himself was once ready at the different aspect. “We are gonna do that once more,” Acuña informed Aular, the person who guided him throughout the torn ACL on his proper knee lower than 3 years previous. “We are gonna win MVP once more.”
Stated Aular: “I were given goosebumps.”
Acuña tore his ACL for the primary time in 2021, so when Aular noticed the clip of him crumbling to the bottom ultimate 12 months in Pittsburgh, he fearful that the considered every other laborious rehab would possibly weigh down the participant. That preliminary telephone name equipped encouragement. And as they started to coach in combination once more this wintry weather, Aular spotted a massively other Acuña from the ultimate rehab. He was once extra mature, extra targeted, however he was once additionally grappling along with his identification like by no means sooner than. Acuña first of all declared he would now not thieve bases, and Aular spent the simpler a part of 10 weeks convincing him he did not must take it that a ways.
They labored on stabilization and converting path, but additionally on shaping mindset. Converting his taste of play was once pointless, Aular again and again informed Acuña. Firming down his stage of depth would possibly if truth be told be unhealthy. He merely wanted to select his spots. The primary ACL tear came about whilst Acuña sprinted towards the caution observe and tried to make a jumping catch close to the fence. However the second one was once the results of unnecessarily forcing motion, making an attempt to thieve 3rd base within the first inning of an early-season recreation, then hurting himself whilst converting path and backing out to moment.
“He must learn to play to the location within the recreation,” Aular mentioned in Spanish. “That’s what’s key for Ronald.”
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Acuña, 27, has performed seven seasons within the main leagues however has simplest been absolutely wholesome for 2 of them. Within the first, 2019, he hit 41 homers, stole 37 bases, posted an .883 OPS and completed 5th in Nationwide League MVP balloting as a 21-year-old. In his moment, 2023, he put in combination the primary 40/70 season in main league historical past and was once a unanimous selection for MVP.
Acuña emerged from that 12 months taking a look like the most efficient, maximum electrifying participant within the recreation — out of doors of Shohei Ohtani, most likely — however there is no telling what he’s going to seem like coming off a moment main knee operation. Acuña believes the combo of fine well being and extra seasoning will make for “an excellent higher participant than I used to be in 2023.” He is additionally striving to be rather other.
“I would quite thieve 30 and play the entire season versus seeking to thieve 70, injuring myself and lacking the entire 12 months,” Acuña mentioned in Spanish.
However putting the right kind stability between aggression and keep watch over can regularly be tricky on gamers, and Acuña’s strive turns out particularly refined. What the Braves need maximum is to have him wholesome, however in addition they know the most efficient model of him performs with a touch of reckless abandon. They do not wish to lose Acuña, however in addition they are not looking for him to lose himself.
They are hoping time will assist.
The Braves have not introduced a go back date for Acuña, but when all is going smartly, he’s anticipated to rejoin their lineup sooner or later in Would possibly. By way of then, his rehab may have lasted about three hundred and sixty five days, two greater than the ultimate time. His go back may not include any synthetic restraints, both. He’s going to play his standard place of proper box when he begins, versus getting relaxation days at designated hitter, and can deal with a inexperienced gentle at the bases. Any limits will likely be self-imposed.
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“We are gonna ensure that when he is again, he is complete pass, and that he can also be himself and play the sport he performs,” Braves normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. “He is very aggressive, he is an amazing base-stealer, and we aren’t gonna have any restrictions on him in any respect.”
Anthopoulos has heard discuss Acuña’s want to be extra wary at the bases, even though he hasn’t heard that from Acuña himself.
His reaction: “I will imagine it after I see it.
“And I do not imply that during a foul method,” Anthopoulos added. “He is simply one of these just right base-stealer. From a scientific perspective, if he is cleared and he is nice, I believe he’s going to discover a candy spot that is smart for him. However we’ve not informed him the rest particularly. As soon as he is again, the plan is that he is again with out a restrictions.”
Anthopoulos spotted Acuña being extra “nervous and tentative” within the outfield when he returned from a nine-and-a-half-month rehab in 2022. There was once concern of a repeat incident, however Acuña additionally hadn’t spent sufficient time strengthening his decrease 1/2. Intermittent off days had been had to struggle chronic discomfort. Acuña did not really feel as though he had a powerful sufficient base, and his numbers — a .764 OPS and 15 homers whilst being stuck stealing an NL-worst 11 instances in 119 video games — confirmed it.
That should not be the case this time.
Stated Aular: “He is a lot more potent now.”
Acuña spent June, July, August and maximum of September navigating throughout the preliminary levels of his rehab at Elite OrthoSport, the Los Angeles-based coaching facility beneficial by means of his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Aular then educated Acuña in his native land of L. a. Sabana from the center of November till the tip of January. The Braves’ coaching workforce despatched an in depth plan, and the 2 adopted it six days every week, in five-hour classes, setting out simplest on Christmas Day and New 12 months’s Eve.
By way of January, Acuña mentioned he’d began to really feel like himself once more. As soon as spring coaching started, he dazzled teammates regularly with prodigious house runs all through batting follow. Now and then it gave the impression as though he by no means left.
“He simply looks as if himself,” Braves middle fielder Michael Harris II mentioned. “Nonetheless having amusing, nonetheless being a goofball, nonetheless hitting balls over the scoreboard.”
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Acuña is a naturally talented runner, having starred as a 400-meter sprinter all through his early teenage years. As he rose throughout the Braves’ gadget, he racked up 82 stolen bases in 265 minor league video games. He adopted with 196 steals within the majors from 2018 to 2024 — second-most within the recreation in spite of lacking 30% of the video games in that reach. Stealing bases has all the time been a significant a part of Acuña’s identification. Few appear satisfied he’s going to let up, even though just a bit.
“I don’t believe he’s going to ever give it up,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson mentioned with fun. “It is the participant he’s. Yeah, you’ll be able to select while you run and stuff, however I guess as soon as he will get again in the market, he will get his legs underneath him, again into taking part in velocity, he is gonna be the similar ol’ Ronald.”
The Braves had their string of six consecutive department titles snapped ultimate season, successful 89 video games and simply slightly sneaking into the playoffs. The New York Mets have since added Juan Soto, and the Philadelphia Phillies proceed to be a drive, however the Braves will likely be getting their two best possible gamers again: Spencer Strider, who succumbed to elbow surgical treatment after simplest two begins ultimate spring, must go back to the highest of the rotation sooner than the tip of April; Acuña will go back to the highest of the lineup in a while thereafter.
Acuña may not play in any Grapefruit League video games, however he has been taking at-bats in opposition to Braves pitchers to hone in on his timing. Quickly, he’s going to be cleared for chopping drills. A rehab project will quickly observe. The truth of taking part in precise baseball video games once more has noticeably lifted his spirits.
“You admire issues extra in case you have one thing like that occur,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “You recognize how blessed you’re to have this chance to play this recreation.”
Requested what he realized having long gone thru this procedure sooner than, Acuña mentioned, “Persistence. Now not getting too frightened.”
He hopes he’s going to be higher for it.
“I do know the kind of participant I will be,” Acuña mentioned. “I nonetheless do not really feel like I have gotten to, like, my prime-prime. An important factor is well being.”
