NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. said he has almost completely recovered after tearing his left ACL during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates last May.
Speaking almost exclusively in English even with a Spanish-language interpreter standing next to him, the unanimous 2023 National League MVP estimated his knee at 90 to 95% of its full ability.
“I feel great,” the 27-year-old right fielder from Venezuela said Friday at Atlanta’s spring training facility. “When they tell me I need to be there that day, I’ll be there.”
Acuña, the team’s leadoff hitter, injured his left knee last May 26 on a stolen-base attempt and had surgery June 4, with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache performing the operation.
Acuña tore the ACL in his right knee while playing the field against the Miami Marlins on July 10, 2021, had surgery with ElAttrache 11 days later and missed the Braves’ run to their first World Series title since 1995. He returned on April 28, 2022, having missed Atlanta’s first 19 games of that regular season.