It was fairly a welcome again for Ronald Acuña Jr. on Friday.
Throughout his first massive league recreation in almost a yr after struggling an ACL tear final Might, Acuña, 27, belted a house run into the left area stands on the primary pitch he noticed to open scoring for the Braves towards the Padres.
As he trotted towards first base, Acuña used Grizzlies level guard Ja Morant’s signature celebration, which mimics throwing an imaginary projectile and protecting his ears.
Morant re-shared the video of the house run on his X account with a fireplace emoji.
Acuña’s homer within the first inning was the one rating for the Braves, who wound up dropping to the Padres, 2-1.
Shortly earlier than being referred to as again as much as the Braves, Acuña homered in his first rehab recreation for the Braves’ Florida Advanced League crew on Might 13.
The four-time All-Star has been sidelined since final Might when he tore his left ACL whereas taking a lead off second base throughout a recreation towards the Pirates.
Acuña’s harm in 2024 was the second ACL harm of his profession, as he tore the identical ligament in his proper knee throughout a recreation towards the Marlins 4 years in the past, inflicting him to overlook vital parts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The outfielder managed to completely bounce again from his first ACL tear, incomes 2023 NL MVP honors after batting .337 and changing into the primary 40-40 participant since Alfonso Soriano in 2006.
Braves supervisor Brian Snitker was elated to have his franchise cornerstone again on the crew.
“He’s a kind of gamers that you just higher not go get a beer or no matter since you would possibly miss one thing actually cool, you understand?” Snitker advised reporters earlier than Friday’s recreation. “I imply, he’s that sort of power, I believe, within the recreation. I believe he’s going to energise all people. Going to energise the followers. Going to energise his teammates.”
Teammate Austin Riley additionally confirmed pleasure that the three-time Silver Slugger winner has returned.
“It’s large,” Riley advised reporters. “The expertise is there. The vitality he brings, having Ronald up there on the high of the lineup. … He can change a recreation at any level.”
