The 2025 MLB regular season has not gone exactly to plan for the Atlanta Braves, as they are 1-8 through their first nine games. Unfortunately, the Braves have dealt with injuries (Reynaldo Lopez) and a suspension (Jurickson Profar), which fans did not have their bingo card.
Before the regular season began, the Braves were already without Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, and Ronald Acuna Jr. However, Atlanta hopes all three players will return soon. Strider and Murphy look on their way as they are making a rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Acuna isn’t at that part of his rehab yet, but Braves fans should be encouraged by the latest news on the superstar outfielder.
Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reported on Saturday evening that the former NL MVP will travel to Los Angeles to get final medical clearances from doctors to build up his running and hopefully start a rehab assignment.
#Braves RF Ronald Acuña Jr. will be heading to Los Angeles soon to get the final clearances from doctors to ramp up his running and eventually head out on a rehab assignment. Timetable is not in stone, but anticipating an early-mid May return (barring any setbacks) seems logical.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) April 5, 2025
McAuley adds that Acuna’s timetable is not set in stone, but an early- to mid-May return (barring a setback) should not be dismissed.
This latest information from McAuley coincides with what Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported early last month. According to Feinsand, the Braves said they were optimistic about Acuña’s return in the early part of the 2025 season.
The first full month of the MLB season is just starting, so there’s still time for Acuña to make his 2025 debut in May. The 27-year-old All-Star outfielder is rehabbing from his second ACL tear in as many years.
Acuña suffered a torn ACL last May after playing 49 games (.250 with four home runs, 15 RBI, and 16 stolen bases). When he's healthy, Acuña is one of the best players in baseball, which was shown in 2023, the season he won NL MVP.
During his MVP season, Acuña slashed .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and 73 stolen bases. Braves fans shouldn’t expect that type of output when the superstar slugger does return, but they cannot wait for his debut, as this Atlanta offense could use a boost.