SerpApi.Org
Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. took another important step toward returning to the major leagues on Tuesday, continuing his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. The former National League MVP started in right field for the second consecutive game as the Stripers fell 7-4 to the Iowa Cubs, signaling that Atlanta is gradually increasing his workload before activating him.
Acuña wasted little time making an impact, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a single before going hitless in his next three at-bats. The Braves remain cautious as the Venezuelan outfielder recovers from his second left hamstring strain of the season, prioritizing his long-term health over an immediate return.
Despite the conservative approach, Acuña could be activated as early as this week. Through three rehab games with Gwinnett, he is batting .222 (2-for-9) without an extra-base hit. Earlier in his recovery, the 2023 NL MVP also hit a grand slam while serving as the designated hitter during three rehab appearances in the Florida Complex League.
"We want him to hit the ground running," Braves manager Walt Weiss said when discussing Acuña's progress. Weiss emphasized that the organization wants its franchise player to return at full strength rather than spending his first week back trying to regain timing and confidence at the major league level.
Meanwhile, Ha-Seong Kim also continued his rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday, even as the Braves celebrated him with a bobblehead giveaway at Truist Park. Roughly 35 miles away in Gwinnett, the veteran shortstop went 1-for-4 with a first-inning double while continuing to build momentum after a difficult start to his Atlanta career.
Although Kim's overall offensive numbers remain modest, his quality of contact has been encouraging. Three of his four balls in play on Tuesday were hit at 95.9 mph or harder, continuing a trend that has emerged throughout his rehab assignment. Six of the 11 balls he has put in play for Gwinnett have been struck at 98.5 mph or higher, a significant improvement over his early-season production with Atlanta.
For the Braves, the progress of both Acuña and Kim comes at a crucial point in the season. Atlanta hopes their eventual return will provide a major boost to both the lineup and the defense as the club looks to strengthen its roster for the stretch run.
With Acuña expected to rejoin the Braves in the coming days, all eyes will be on one of baseball's biggest stars. If his rehab assignment continues to progress without setbacks, Atlanta could soon welcome back one of the most dynamic players in Major League Baseball just in time for the team's playoff push.
