Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Journey Back to the Diamond: A Story of Resilience and Determination
In the world of professional sports, few stories capture the essence of resilience and determination quite like that of Ronald Acuña Jr.. The Atlanta Braves’ star outfielder has faced his fair share of challenges, but his journey back to the field after a second ACL tear is nothing short of inspiring.
It was a somber afternoon on May 26 when Acuña met with the Braves’ medical staff and received the devastating news: a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee. The emotional weight of the diagnosis was overwhelming, and Acuña couldn’t hold back his tears. However, by the time he spoke with his Venezuela-based trainer, Juan Aular, later that night, Acuña had already begun to accept his fate. He was determined to come back stronger, convinced that a better version of himself awaited on the other side of this setback. “We’re gonna do this again,” Acuña told Aular, referring to his previous MVP-winning season. “We’re gonna win MVP again.”
Aular, who had guided Acuña through a similar injury on his right knee less than three years earlier, was moved by Acuña’s resolve. “I got goosebumps,” Aular admitted. The road to recovery would be long and arduous, but Acuña’s determination was unwavering.
The Road to Recovery
Acuña’s first ACL tear occurred in 2021, and when Aular saw the clip of him crumbling to the ground in Pittsburgh last year, he feared the thought of another grueling rehab might crush the player. However, that initial phone call provided a glimmer of hope. As they began training together again this winter, Aular noticed a significant change in Acuña. He was more mature, more focused, and more determined than ever before.
One of the key challenges Acuña faced was grappling with his identity as a player. Initially, he declared that he would no longer steal bases, a decision that Aular spent weeks trying to change. They worked on stabilization, changing direction, and shaping Acuña’s mindset. Aular emphasized that changing his style of play was unnecessary and that toning down his intensity might even be dangerous. Instead, Acuña needed to learn how to pick his spots and play to the situation in the game.
Striking the Right Balance
Acuña, now 27, has played seven seasons in the major leagues but has only been fully healthy for two of them. In 2019, he hit 41 homers, stole 37 bases, posted an .883 OPS, and finished fifth in National League MVP voting as a 21-year-old. In 2023, he made history with the first 40/70 season in major league history and was a unanimous choice for MVP.
Despite his past success, there’s no telling what Acuña will look like coming off a second major knee operation. He believes that the combination of good health and more seasoning will make him “an even better player than I was in 2023.” However, he’s also striving to be slightly different. “I’d rather steal 30 and play the whole season as opposed to trying to steal 70, injuring myself, and missing the whole year,” Acuña said in Spanish.
Finding the right balance between aggression and control can be challenging for any player, and Acuña’s attempt is especially delicate. The Braves want him healthy, but they also know that the best version of him plays with a hint of reckless abandon. They don’t want to lose Acuña, but they also don’t want him to lose himself.
The Path Forward
The Braves haven’t announced a return date for Acuña, but if all goes well, he is expected to rejoin their lineup at some point in May. By then, his rehab will have lasted about 12 months, two more than the last time. His return won’t come with any artificial restraints. He’ll play his customary position of right field when he starts, as opposed to getting rest days at designated hitter, and will maintain a green light on the bases. Any limits will be self-imposed.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos emphasized, “We’re gonna make sure when he’s back, he’s full go, and that he can be himself and play the game he plays.” Anthopoulos has heard talk about Acuña’s desire to be more cautious on the bases, though he hasn’t heard that from Acuña himself. His response: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Anthopoulos added, “He’s just such a good base-stealer. From a medical standpoint, if he’s cleared and he’s fine, I think he’ll find a sweet spot that makes sense for him. But we haven’t told him anything specifically. Once he’s back, the plan is that he’s back with no restrictions.”
Looking Ahead
Acuña spent June, July, August, and most of September navigating through the initial stages of his rehab at Elite OrthoSport, the Los Angeles-based training facility recommended by his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Aular then trained Acuña in his hometown of La Sabana from the middle of November until the end of January. The Braves’ training staff sent a detailed plan, and the two followed it six days a week, in five-hour sessions, taking off only on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
By January, Acuña said he’d started to feel like himself again. Once spring training began, he dazzled teammates continually with prodigious home runs during batting practice. At times, it seemed as if he never left. “He just looks like himself,” Braves center fielder Michael Harris II said. “Still having fun, still being a goofball, still hitting balls over the scoreboard.”
Acuña is a naturally gifted runner, having starred as a 400-meter sprinter during his early teenage years. As he rose through the Braves’ system, he racked up 82 stolen bases in 265 minor league games. He followed with 196 steals in the majors from 2018 to 2024 — second-most in the sport despite missing 30% of the games in that stretch. Stealing bases has always been a major part of Acuña’s identity. Few seem convinced he will let up, even if just a little.
“I don’t think he’ll ever give it up,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said with a laugh. “It’s the player he is. Yeah, you can choose when you run and stuff, but I bet once he gets back out there, he gets his legs under him, back into playing speed, he’s gonna be the same ol’ Ronald.”
The Braves had their string of six consecutive division titles snapped last season, winning 89 games and just barely sneaking into the playoffs. The New York Mets have since added Juan Soto, and the Philadelphia Phillies continue to be a force, but the Braves will be getting their two best players back: Spencer Strider, who succumbed to elbow surgery after only two starts last spring, should return to the top of the rotation before the end of April; Acuña will return to the top of the lineup shortly thereafter.
Acuña won’t play in any Grapefruit League games, but he has been taking at-bats against Braves pitchers to hone in on his timing. Soon, he’ll be cleared for cutting drills. A rehab assignment will soon follow. The reality of playing actual baseball games again has noticeably lifted his spirits.
“You appreciate things more when you have something like that happen,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You realize how blessed you are to have this opportunity to play this game.”
Asked what he learned having gone through this process before, Acuña said, “Patience. Not getting too anxious.”
He hopes he’ll be better for it. “I know the type of player I can be,” Acuña said. “I still don’t feel like I’ve gotten to, like, my prime-prime. The most important thing is health.”
Originally Written by: Alden Gonzalez
