Ronald Acuña Jr. DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made some noise when he hit a solo home run on the first pitch he saw during his season debut on Friday. It was a beautiful sight to see after Acuna battled his way back to the field from a year-long recovery from an ACL tear in his left knee. The young superstar continued to impress with the bat during Saturday's contest. Acuna went deep again on Saturday off Alek Jacob for a two-run blast in the sixth inning. He didn't do much else as Acuna finished his day 1-for-5 with that two-run homer in the win. The 27-year-old is one of the most exciting players in the game and it's great to see him back and swinging the bat at a high level.

Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made a dramatic 2025 debut on Friday, homering on the game's first pitch against San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta. Acuna's mammoth 467-foot HR produced the only run for the Braves, who lost 2-1, but it was an enormous bright spot for the club. The 27-year-old also chipped in a single to finish 2-for-4. Before Friday, he hadn't appeared in a game since he tore his left ACL last May. However, Acuna returned with a bang and will aim to regain his previous form now that he's back. In 2023, his most recent full season, Acuna slashed an otherworldly .337/.416/.596 with 41 long balls, 106 RBI, 149 runs, and a jaw-dropping 73 stolen bases over 735 plate appearances.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) will make his season debut on Friday against the San Diego Padres. The team announced Acuna's return with a celebratory post on social media. The superstar hasn't appeared in an MLB game since last May due to a torn ACL, but his return appeared imminent after a successful rehab assignment at the Triple-A level. The Braves will get a major boost by re-inserting Acuna into their lineup. The 27-year-old slashed .337/.416/.596 during his last full season in 2023, adding 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases amidst a historic campaign. He only struck out 11.4 percent of the time that year, but that number was perhaps an anomaly considering he had never finished with a strikeout rate below 20 percent before. It's unclear if Acuna can get back to his 2023 form, and the Braves may give him a little more rest or have him run less often upon his return from the injured list. Nevertheless, Acuna is a perennial All-Star with MVP upside. His return is huge for the Braves and baseball as a whole.