After latest rehab game, Acuña expected back this weekend
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ATLANTA -- Braves manager Walt Weiss expects to have Ronald Acuña Jr. back in his lineup during this weekend’s series in Baltimore. In fact, he didn’t rule out the possibility of the 2023 National League MVP being activated before Friday’s series opener.
"A lot of it depends on how he performs, really," Weiss said. "He's got to feel right about his timing and all that stuff. So I'm hoping he gets a couple of hits tonight and he feels good about it."
Weiss said this a couple hours before Acuña played his latest Minor League rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday night. The veteran outfielder went 0-for-2 with a walk in a 4-2 win over Iowa, which was called after five innings because of rain.
The quality of contact was going to be a significant variable for the Braves while assessing when to activate Acuña. Including a 98.4 mph groundout in the first inning on Thursday, nine of the 14 balls he put in play for Gwinnett had an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher.
Acuña has been sidelined since June with a left hamstring strain. He has strained his same muscle twice this year. But he showed no lingering effects as he scored from second base with a headfirst slide and also stole third base during Wednesday night’s game.
"Physically, he's good to go," Weiss said. "This is all about him being ready to be impactful when he gets here."
Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver also continued his Minor League rehab assignment in Thursday night’s game. Smith-Shawver allowed one unearned run over four-plus innings before being lifted mid-at-bat to start the fifth because of pitch count. He threw 54 of his 86 pitches for strikes, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five.
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Smith-Shawver averaged 97.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, topping out at 99.8 mph. The right-hander, who is returning from UCL surgery, will likely make at least one more start before becoming a candidate to start in Atlanta.
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim was also in the lineup for Gwinnett on Thursday, going 0-for-1 with a pair of walks. Kim (right middle finger inflammation) has been on a rehab assignment since July 13.