Ronald Acuña Jr. was back on the grass at Truist Park on Friday, taking batting practice and shagging fly balls in right field before the Braves opened a three-game series against the Red Sox. The work was another sign that the star outfielder is moving forward from the hamstring strain that sent him to the 10-day injured list on May 3, but Braves manager Walt Weiss said he is not likely to be reinstated during the weekend.
Weiss said the club will wait until after the homestand to take another look, adding that Acuña is doing agility work at half speed and still has work in front of him. “I think we’ll get through the home stand and re-evaluate again,” Weiss said. “We still got some time before we see Ronnie.”
The update matters because Acuña’s return would give Atlanta a jolt it has not needed to survive but would welcome anyway. The Braves have gone 6-4 with him on the injured list, and they have kept him involved in baseball activity with running drills on the right-field grass hours before first pitch. The 28-year-old Venezuelan could be in line to come back next week in Miami, and the club has even discussed the possibility of using him as a designated hitter if he is not ready to handle the outfield.
Acuña’s season before the injury was uneven but still productive in flashes. He is hitting.252 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games, has scored nine runs and stolen seven bases, and last went deep on April 24. He also has two assists, including a running catch into the right-field corner in Philadelphia on April 19 that likely saved a win against the Phillies.
The Braves have tried to patch right field while he recovers. José Azócar was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 3, designated for assignment on May 6, then signed a minor-league contract Monday and was brought back Tuesday. He started in right field Friday against the Red Sox and batted ninth after going 1-for-3 in the three-game series against the Cubs this week.
Weiss said the ramp-up has gone well so far. “He’s doing well. They’re adding a little bit more every day and he’s passing all the tests, so it’s been encouraging,” he said. That progress points to a return that is close enough to watch but not close enough to force.
