Ronald Acuna wants to be back in the lineup as badly as Braves fans want him back, but the team will be cautious with the prized rookie as he continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a frightening on-field incident just over a week ago.
Acuna, who’s on the 10-day disabled list recovering from a mild sprain of the ACL and contusions of the left knee and lower back, hasn’t resumed baseball activities, but will probably get clearance to do so this week.
The 20-year-old phenom was injured May 27 at Boston after taking a terrible tumble when his left foot planted awkwardly in the dirt and his knee hyperextended just after Acuna crossed first base to beat out an infield hit.
“We hope to get him doing some baseball activities this week,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Monday night’s series opener at San Diego. “I’m sure if you asked him right now he’d probably tell you he could go play. But there’s still some soreness.
“He’s doing good. It’s a day-to-day thing as to how he comes in and feels. I think while we’re on this road trip, he’s back home and they’ll start getting him in some baseball activities as the week goes.”
Snitker said Acuna has been able to stay active lifting weights, doing stretching and pool workouts and other rehab activities, but no throwing, hitting or running yet. Once he’s cleared to begin those activities, he could progress quickly, but will need a minor-league rehab assignment before he rejoins the Braves.
There is no timetable for any of that, said Snitker, who was asked what body part is still bothering Acuna the most.
“I think the back, where he landed on it, I’m not so sure that doesn’t bother him more than the knee, really,” Snitker said. “But the knee is bruised and we’ve just got to be careful with him. Because he’s a young kid who only knows how to go one way and that’s full-bore. So we’re just going to make sure.
“We’re not going to baby him or anything like that, but we’re going to have to be smart about it and use common sense before we get him out on a rehab (assignment).”
Until Acuna walked off the field a few minutes after the May 27 incident, there were fears that he had sustained a season-ending type of injury, possibly a broken leg or complete tear of multiple ligaments. Until MRI exam results were announced the next day, there still were surgeons who had seen the incident opining on social media that Acuna likely tore ligaments despite being able to walk off the field.
But he didn’t, and the Braves were beyond relieved.
When asked if Acuna might be ready to begin a rehab assignment by the time the team returns from a week-long trip that began Monday, Snitker said, “I’m not even looking ahead. He was so lucky, that was just an unbelievably big bullet that he dodged. We’re just going to, according to the doctor, just be real careful and just make sure he’s really (healthy) again before he we turn him loose on the baseball field.”
