Ronald Acuña Jr. Hits Grand Slam in Rehab Assignment

Ronald Acuña Jr. hits grand slam in rehab assignment

The Braves are gearing up for the second half of their 2026 season, currently sitting atop the NL East with a 55-40 record. However, they could use some better health down the stretch to win the division. In the case of superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., Thursday was a small step in the right direction as he continues his rehab assignment with the FCL Braves.

What happened?

In his third game of his rehab assignment, Acuña blasted a third-inning grand slam to give his Braves an 11-4 lead over the FCL Red Sox. The homer, his first hit since joining the FCL Braves, traveled a projected 423 feet at 112.8 mph off the bat. Acuña has only served as the designated hitter since starting his rehab and added a pair of walks Thursday, including one with the bases loaded to give him five RBIs on the day.

Why it matters for Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña was hitting .251/.373/.421 with seven home runs before the injury. His return to the lineup is crucial for the Braves' chances of winning the division. The team has not confirmed how long Acuña's rehab assignment is expected to last, but he's been on the shelf since injuring the hamstring on June 9.

What comes next?

The Braves have not set a timeline for how long Acuña will need to rehab. He's been working on his recovery with the FCL Braves, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to return to the big league team. The Braves are fielding two former MVPs in their Florida Complex League lineup, with Andrew McCutchen joining the organization after signing a Minor League contract on July 2.

Other key injuries for the Braves include OF Mike Yastrzemski, RHP Robert Suarez, LHP Martín Pérez, and RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (on rehab assignment). The team is looking to build on a bounce-back year and will need to stay healthy down the stretch to win the division.

Additional notes

The Braves are also dealing with injuries to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who underwent offseason surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. Kim returned to the big league Braves in May but struggled and was then placed on the IL again on July 4 with inflammation in the same finger. Like Acuña, the Braves have not set a timeline for how long Kim will need to rehab.

The Braves begin their second half of the 2026 season on Friday against the Rangers, and it will be interesting to see how Acuña's rehab assignment progresses. Will he be ready to return to the lineup in time to help the Braves win the division? Only time will tell.

The Braves have not confirmed how long Acuña's rehab assignment is expected to last, but he's been on the shelf since injuring the hamstring on June 9.