PITTSBURGH -- Braves manager Walt Weiss said Ronald Acuña Jr. will likely begin a Minor League rehab assignment during the All-Star break, but the Braves will be without top setup man Robert Suarez for at least a couple more weeks.
The Braves haven’t provided any specific plans for Acuña’s rehab, but the expectation has been that the 2023 NL MVP would return after the All-Star break. He has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring on June 9.
“That will be good to get him back,” Weiss said. “It’s a right-handed bat we probably need in our lineup. He’s obviously a great player. Even when he's not performing at his highest level, he's a presence and there’s a trickle-down effect when you have to deal with him at the top of the order.”
Acuña has hit .251 with seven homers, 15 stolen bases and a .793 OPS over 53 games this year. The Braves' right fielder missed a little more than two weeks after initially straining his left hamstring on May 2. He returned on May 19 and produced a .893 OPS over 19 games before aggravating the hamstring strain.
The Braves entered June 9 with a 45-21 record. They have gone 7-16 in the 23 games played during Acuña’s current IL stint.
Suarez, who has a 0.56 ERA in 31 appearances, has been sidelined since late June with right elbow inflammation. There was initially some hope he could return immediately after the All-Star break. But the veteran reliever hasn’t been cleared to resume throwing. So, his earliest return would likely be a week or two after play resumes.