NORTH PORT, Fla. — Ronald Acuña has expressed that he is close to full recovery following a left ACL tear he sustained while playing for the Atlanta Braves last May.
In a recent statement, he communicated effectively in English, despite having a Spanish-language interpreter present, and estimated his knee is currently at about 90-95% healing.
“I feel great,” Acuña remarked on Friday, adding, “When they tell me I need to be there that day, I’ll be there.”

The injury occurred on May 26 during a stolen-base attempt against Pittsburgh, leading to surgery on June 4 with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This wasn’t Acuña’s first encounter with such a serious injury; he had previously torn his right ACL on July 10, 2021. He underwent surgery shortly after, on July 21, and missed the entire postseason as the Braves clinched their first World Series title since 1995.
He made a comeback on April 28, 2022, just after missing the first 19 games of the season.

In his remarkable 2023 season, Acuña batted an impressive .337, achieved 41 home runs, and drove in 106 RBIs. He also led the league with a staggering 73 stolen bases, embodying the talent that earned him the National League MVP title.
“We believe that having him back will be incredibly significant,” commented general manager Alex Anthopoulos, highlighting Acuña’s importance to the team’s performance.
Reflecting on his recovery process compared to his prior ACL injury, Acuña mentioned that he feels “more stable” this time around.