MILWAUKEE -- Regardless of what Ronald Acuna Jr. said, he was not going to talk his way into the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers, which Atlanta won, 5-1. But the Braves outfielder's left groin has improved enough for him to possibly return to action on Sunday.
Acuna exited Friday night's loss after his left groin tightened as he recorded a seventh-inning infield single. The 20-year-old phenom was available to come off the bench Saturday, but Braves manager Brian Snitker didn't want to take any chances with the young outfielder, who ended a month-long disabled list stint last week.
"I already made the decision," Snitker said. "Even if he came in and said he felt great, I wasn't going to play him today. I talked to him, and it's a little stiff, but I don't think it's anything he couldn't play through. I just don't want to take a chance."
Snitker has the option of resting Acuna through Monday's off-day, but he seemed to be leaning toward having his left fielder back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Brewers.
As Acuna has progressed through the early portion of his career, he's displayed his five-tool talents and validated his status as MLB Pipeline's top prospect earlier this season. His speed fortunately wasn't adversely affected after he sprained his left anterior cruciate ligament on an infield single at Fenway Park on May 27.
Per Statcast™, Acuna had an average sprint speed of 29.8 mph before the injury. That reading, which ranks as MLB's seventh-fastest, has remained exactly the same since he returned from the disabled list on June 29.
"If I was that fast, I'd be running like that too," Snitker said. "I'd love to be able to experience that some time. I never will."