NORTH PORT, Fla. – An MRI scan gave the Braves confidence that Ronald Acuña Jr. will be ready for the start of the regular season. However, the team won't have a final schedule until the reigning National League MVP travels to California on Monday to receive Dr. To have Neal ElAttrache judged.
Acuña underwent an MRI after telling the Braves on Friday that his right knee was sore. The images showed irritation in the area of his right meniscus. ElAttrache was encouraged by what he saw in the pictures, but to be on the safe side suggested examining the Braves outfielder at his Los Angeles-area office.
“We expect him to be ready for Opening Day barring any new information,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. “It looks like trouble, but we’re going to make sure we tick all the boxes.”
Acuña strolled into the Braves' spring training facility Saturday morning without a noticeable limp.
There really was no sign that Acuña was struggling with anything before he was removed from the lineup for Friday afternoon's game. During the third inning of Thursday's game against the Twins, he injured his right knee while between second and third base.
But the Braves right fielder remained in the game before being elevated along with many other starters after the fifth. He then spent Friday morning taking batting practice, signing autographs and doing interviews with MLB Network.
So there really was no sign of illness until the Braves removed Acuña from the starting lineup less than an hour before Friday's game against the Orioles.
ElAttrache repaired the same knee after Acuña suffered a torn right ACL two days before the 2021 All-Star break.
Acuña won his first National League MVP Award in 2023 after becoming the first player to hit more than 40 home runs and steal at least 70 bases in a season. His historic season proved even more satisfying given the knee injury he suffered two seasons earlier.