Ronald Acuña to Begin Rehab Assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett

Ronald Acuña's highly anticipated return to the Braves is gaining momentum as he prepares to join Triple-A Gwinnett for a rehab assignment. The outfielder, who has been rehabilitating after tearing his ACL last summer, will start a series in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to play five to six innings in the outfield. This move is a significant step towards Acuña's potential return to the big league club, with May 6 serving as a loose target date. Braves manager Brian Snitker expressed excitement about Acuña's return, highlighting the impact he will have on the team's lineup.

Key Takeaways:

• Ronald Acuña is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett, playing a series in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Acuña has been rehabilitating in Florida, playing in simulated games and building up in the outfield.
• The Braves expect Acuña to play five to six innings in the outfield initially, with plans to gradually increase his playing time.
• The team wants to monitor Acuña's body response before making him a full-time outfielder again.
• Last season, Acuña hit .283 with a .969 on-base plus slugging percentage and 24 home runs before injuring his ACL in July.
• Manager Brian Snitker believes Acuña's return will be a significant boost to the team, particularly at the top of the order.
• Acuña has been participating in simulated games, allowing him to get at-bats and build up his stamina in a controlled environment.

Statistics:

• Acuña played in 131 games last season before injuring his ACL.
• He hit .283 with a .969 on-base plus slugging percentage and 24 home runs in 2019.
• Acuña is expected to play five to six innings in the outfield initially as part of his rehab assignment.
• The May 6 target date for Acuña's return to the big league club is still a possibility.

Sources:

• JUSTIN TOSCANO, AJC
• Sports news (Original publication not specified)