Most Atlanta Braves fans entered the 2025 season with a sense of cautious optimism, hoping to see a version of Ronald Acuña Jr. that looked more like the superstar from 2023 and far removed from the one who struggled in 2022—the year he returned from his first ACL tear.
In 2022, Acuña’s numbers were well below his usual standards. He managed only 15 home runs across 119 games—nine fewer than he hit in 2021, when he played just 82 games before suffering that first major knee injury. His OPS that year dropped to .764, a career low, down by 119 points from his previous worst. Naturally, this led to doubts about whether Acuña could ever return to being the dynamic force he once was.
Those doubts were quickly put to rest the following season. In 2023, Acuña not only bounced back—he made history, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball to post a 40 home run/70 stolen base season. His numbers were jaw-dropping: a .337 batting average, a league-leading .416 on-base percentage, 73 steals, and a 1.012 OPS. That historic campaign earned him the National League MVP and re-established him as one of the premier talents in the sport.
Unfortunately, just a couple of months into the 2024 season, Acuña suffered another devastating knee injury, casting yet more uncertainty over his future. But this time, both Acuña and the Braves chose a more deliberate path. Rather than rushing his recovery—as they arguably did the first time—Acuña took a full year off, allowing his body to heal completely before returning to competitive action.
So far, that decision seems to be paying off.
Through his first nine games of the 2025 season, Acuña is hitting .324 with three home runs, two doubles, and an impressive 1.042 OPS. What’s especially encouraging is the return of his power—something that was noticeably absent during his 2022 comeback. His slugging was on full display right from the jump this season, as he crushed a 467-foot home run on the very first pitch he saw, sending a clear message that he’s back in full force.
At the current pace he’s setting, Acuña could lead the Braves in home runs by the middle of summer, possibly surpassing the 15-homer threshold by July—a milestone that once took him nearly an entire season to reach post-injury.
While his strong performance hasn’t yet translated into significant improvements in the Braves’ win-loss record, Acuña remains the most compelling reason for fans to tune in every night. The energy, production, and presence he brings to the field are reminiscent of his MVP season and a far cry from the tentative, limited version of himself that took the field three years ago.
In short, the Braves may still be figuring things out as a team, but Ronald Acuña Jr. is doing everything in his power to prove that he’s back—and perhaps better than ever.
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