The Braves announced Friday that they’ve reinstated star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured list. In order to open a roster spot, veteran catcher Sandy León was assigned outright to Triple-A Gwinnett after clearing waivers.
Acuña missed nearly three weeks with a Grade 1 strain in his right calf. It’s the second IL stint of the season for the five-time All-Star and former National League MVP. He opened the season on the shelf while finishing off the rehab from last year’s surgery to repair a torn left ACL.
Between those two IL stints, Acuña was in vintage form. He came to the plate 238 times and slashed a sensational .306/.429/.577 with 14 home runs, nine doubles, a triple and four stolen bases. Acuña walked in a massive 17.6% of his plate appearances, averaged 92.3 mph off the bat and logged a massive 53% hard-hit rate. By measure of wRC+, he was 78% better than the league-average hitter at the plate.
It’s a generally lost season for the Braves, but Acuña surely wants to get a healthy finish under his belt so he can feel good heading into next season. Injuries have hobbled him repeatedly in recent years. He averaged only 102 games per season from 2021-24.
As for the veteran León, he’s been on the roster since July 21 but appeared in only two games and took just one plate appearance. He’s been an emergency third catching option for manager Brian Snitker, but Atlanta has been plugging catchers Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy into the lineup on a daily basis, rotating that pair between the catcher and designated hitter spot. That’s left minimal opportunity for the 36-year-old León, who hit .183/.250/.379 in 169 Triple-A plate appearances this season.
León is a veteran of 13 major league seasons. He’s rarely provided much help with the bat in that time — evidenced by a career .208/.276/.310 batting line in the majors — but has nonetheless carved out a lengthy career on the strength of his defensive acumen, game-calling skills and leadership. He has the right to reject his outright assignment if he chooses.
Thank God he’s back just in time for the playoff push. At least until he gets hurt again on September 1.
The braves need another outfielder so that Acuna can DH some so that he doesn’t hurt himself as much.
Braves should be playing Profar, Harris and White in the field. Activating Acuna during this lost season when he’s had a tight Achilles and calf strain runs the risk of turning into a Haliburton situation
If that is the case, then they really need to be able to have a ghost runner or be able to pinch run for him and keep him in the lineup.
Other then the first ACL injury, his injuries haven’t come from playing the field. They have been running the bases.
Never Remember—formerly known as blackpink—-once again satisfies his need to be the first troll to post on the article.
Where’s Waldo? I mean,
Where’s TradeAcuna?
Why Leon was on the MLB team at all baffles me. Unless the Braves are actually trying to lose games.