Braves Facing Backlash After Ronald Acuna Jr. News on Friday

Braves Facing Backlash After Ronald Acuna Jr. News on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Atlanta Braves have been without their superstar right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. since late July after he suffered a Grade 1 right calf strain during a game against the Kansas City Royals.

Acuna had already missed the first two months of the season, making his season debut in May after returning from his second ACL tear suffered last year. The 27-year-old made his impact known prior to the most recent injury, seemingly returning to his 2023 MVP form by posting a .306 batting average, 1.005 OPS, 14 home runs, and 48 runs scored across just 55 games.

Ahead of a series opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, the team announced that Acuna would return to the lineup and has been activated off the injured list after ramping up baseball activities over the past week.

"The #Braves today reinstated OF Ronald Acuña Jr. from the 10-day injured list and outrighted C Sandy León to Triple-A Gwinnett."

The #Braves today reinstated OF Ronald Acuña Jr. from the 10-day injured list and outrighted C Sandy León to Triple-A Gwinnett.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 15, 2025

Braves Fans Frustrated as Acuna Returns During Lost Season

Upon hearing of Acuna’s return, Braves fans expressed frustration with the organization’s decision to bring him back, given the team’s position far outside of playoff contention.

A fan asked, "That’s cool and all, but why risk your star player on a wasted season?"

"I just want him to be healthy and I really didn't want him to be reinstated until next season," said another.

One fan wrote, "No no no put him back! He’s gonna get hurt again!"

"Take a rest we ain’t going nowhere lol get ready for redemption season next year," said one more.

A fan responded, "Dumb. He should sit out the rest of the season. Zero reason to take the risk of him tearing his Achilles."

Acuna Returning to Ramp Up for Future Seasons

The Braves have been decimated by injuries in 2025, leading to their 53-68 record—an unexpected position this late in the season after entering the year with World Series aspirations.

Although Acuna may not be playing for much with the team on track to miss the postseason, his return serves as an important step in building up his workload for future seasons. His health remains the top priority for the Braves, as he is the face of the franchise, which is why many fans want the team to be cautious.

Throughout his eight years in Atlanta, Acuna has established himself as one of the premier talents in MLB. In his NL MVP 2023 season, he became the first player to ever steal 70 bases and hit 40 home runs in a single year. He has also earned NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2018, five All-Star selections, and three Silver Slugger Awards.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.