ATLANTA -- As the Braves continue to take a cautious approach with Ronald Acuna Jr., it appears they may keep the 20-year-old phenom on the disabled list through the early portion of this week.
"We're still evaluating," Braves manager Brian Snitker said following Sunday's 7-3 win over the Orioles. "He's feeling good, but we're still talking to the doctors about when is the right time. We don't want to rush him back. We want to make sure everything is healed."
Acuna has been on the DL since sustaining a mild tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on May 27. He went 1-for-10 in three Minor League rehab games for Triple-A Gwinnett this weekend. More importantly, he got through the games in pain-free fashion.
"The reports are good," Snitker said. "I'm not looking for results, I'm looking for health -- how he's running and cutting and things like that. I still think we need to make sure he's absolutely ready before we bring him back."
While the Braves have not revealed any specific plans, Snitker indicated he expects Acuna to still be with Gwinnett when the Stripers begin a three-game series in Norfolk on Monday.
If Acuna makes the trip, the assumption would be the Braves want him to play in at least two more games. And with Atlanta's series finale against the Reds a matinee, there seems to be a chance Acuna won't rejoin Atlanta's lineup before Friday's series in St. Louis.
"It's not going to be up to me," Snitker said. "It's going to be up to the medical people."