Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) to return Friday

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. will be activated off the injured list before the series opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday night and play in his first game in nearly 12 months.

The 2023 National League MVP tore the ACL in his left knee on May 26, 2024. The activation will come three days prior to the anniversary of the injury.

"Ronald will be coming off (Friday)," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after an 8-7, 10-inning road loss against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. "We talked after I talked to you guys (pregame) and decided rather than him playing a game (Thursday night) in Louisville and taking (Friday) off, he could take today off and come play with us (Friday). That'll be good. He feels ready so that's great. It will be great to get him back in the lineup."

After Snitker began his postgame press conference, Acuna posted the following on social media: "Vamos a divertirnos."

Translation: "Let's have fun."

After Acuna was a healthy scratch from Triple-A Gwinnett's lineup on Thursday night, word began to circulate that he would make his return to the majors on Friday.

Acuna, 27, played the entire game in right field for Gwinnett on Wednesday and informed Snitker that the knee was feeling great.

"It'll be sooner than later now," Snitker told reporters of Acuna's return prior to Thursday's contest.

Acuna was 6-for-15 with two homers and two RBIs in six rehab games. He homered for the Braves' Florida Complex League team in his first game on May 13 and spent the rest of his stint playing for Gwinnett.

Acuna hurt the knee last season while taking a large lead off second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He underwent surgery on June 6.

Acuna batted .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 16 steals in 49 games last season prior to the injury.

In 2023, Acuna was the unanimous MVP as he belted 41 homers and stole a major-league-best 73 bases to post the first 40-70 season in MLB history. He batted .337 and led the majors with 149 runs, 217 hits and a .416 on-base percentage.

His historic campaign came two years after he sustained a torn right ACL on July 10, 2021, and missed the rest of that season.

Since making his major-league debut in 2018 at 20 years of age, Acuna has batted .289 with a .379 on-base percentage, .525 slugging percentage, 165 homers, 417 RBIs and 196 steals in 722 games over seven seasons. He's a four-time All-Star.

--Field Level Media