Looking back at Atlanta's 2024 season, it remains a miracle the team was able to get into the postseason. So much went sideways for the team, whether it was underachieving players or the unrelenting injuries that would mar the season. This has led to heightened expectations for the 2025 season, with so many returning pieces and players expected to rebound.
Atlanta remaining so silent on the free agent and trade markets is easy to accept when you consider the star pieces the team is getting back for the 2025 season. There are so many players expected to rebound, starting with the 2023 MVP.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr.
Acuna came into the 2024 season as the defending MVP and had every reason to believe he could make a compelling case as the league's best player. A devastating injury robbed the outfielder of that chance and left the Braves without their best player for the rest of the season. While Acuna is expected to ease his way into the 2025 lineup, there isn't any denying that the team's expectations are sitting on his shoulders.
If Acuna can't rebound and turn back the clock to who he has been, this Atlanta team isn't a real contender. With that said, it is more than fair to expect a step back in stolen bases with Acuna coming off his second major knee injury. This isn't to suggest he won't run at all; rather, the team is likely to be far more cautious at protecting their best player. Especially early on as they ease back their young star into the lineup. Whether or not Acuna is able to fully turn back the clock to his MVP production, this is a huge addition and was a glaring hole in Atlanta's 2025 lineup.