Ronald Acuña Jr. Progresses in Hamstring Recovery

Ronald Acuña Jr. is nearing a return to the Atlanta Braves lineup after passing two significant tests in his recovery from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.

The superstar outfielder suffered the injury on May 2 while running out a ground ball against the Colorado Rockies.

He was batting .252 with 32 hits, two home runs, nine RBIs, and 17 runs scored across 34 games before the injury.

On Saturday, MLB.com's Mark Bowman shared footage of Acuña running the bases as part of his structured recovery program.

This visual evidence of the 28-year-old's increasing mobility represented a significant step forward in his rehabilitation journey.

The video reinforced what team officials have been monitoring closely-that his hamstring is responding well to treatment and graduated activity.

Manager Walt Weiss indicated the team would likely wait until Acuña can comfortably play outfield before activating him from the injured list.

This cautious approach reflects the organization's long-term perspective rather than any sense of urgency, even with his willingness to return sooner.

The Braves suffered a setback Saturday, falling 3-2 to the Boston Red Sox in the opening game of a three-game series.

Drake Baldwin and Jose Azocar each contributed two hits, yet the remainder of the lineup remained relatively quiet.

The series remains tied at one game apiece heading into Sunday's afternoon matchup at 1:35 p.m. EST in Atlanta.

As the summer schedule approaches, Acuña's presence in the lineup figures to elevate an already dangerous offensive unit.

The Braves maintain baseball's best record entering the weekend and hold a commanding nine-game lead in the National League East.

Acuña expressed optimism about his timeline, indicating he hoped to receive activation within the next several days.

The Braves have established themselves as legitimate World Series contenders through consistent offensive production and well-rounded roster construction.