Ronald Acuña Jr. wins NL Comeback Player of the Year
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. won National League Comeback Player of the Year, as announced Thursday at the All-MLB awards.
The Comeback Player of the Year is given annually to one player in each league who “re-emerged on the field during the season,” per MLB. Texas starter Jacob deGrom won the American League honor.
Acuña, 27, returned in late May after a torn ACL in his left knee – the second ACL tear of his career – prematurely ended his 2024 campaign. He homered on the first pitch he saw upon returning May 23, a moment he’s said ranks as perhaps the finest of his career.
The 2023 NL MVP hit .290/.417/.518 in 95 games. He launched 21 homers with 12 doubles, 42 RBIs and 74 runs scored. Acuña earned his fifth All-Star nod and started in the Truist Park outfield for the 2025 Midsummer Classic (his fourth time starting).
This marked the second consecutive year a Brave won NL Comeback Player of the Year after starting pitcher Chris Sale took the honor a year ago. The Braves have also had Josh Donaldson (2019), Johnny Venters (2018) and Tim Hudson (2010) win the award.
The Braves are banking on a fully healthy Acuña as a key in their 2026 lineup. He’s played in just 144 games across the past two campaigns. Acuña’s last healthy season was his historically brilliant 2023 in which he became the first player to hit 40 homers and steal 70 bases in a season.
About the Author
Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.
