Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from IL after missing 13 games with strained left hamstring

Ronald Acuña Jr. has been activated from the injured list, the Atlanta Braves announced on Monday.

Acuña, 28, has been on the IL since May 3 with a strained left hamstring. Despite his availability, he is not in the starting lineup for Monday’s matchup with the Miami Marlins.

The hamstring injury occurred during Atlanta's 9-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on May 2 when Acuña was running out a ground ball to second base. After starting his run from the batter’s box, he grabbed at the back of his leg and hobbled to first base. He left the game soon thereafter.

Before his injury, Acuña posted a .252/.362/.378 slash average with 2 homers, 8 doubles, 9 RBI and 7 steals in 152 plate appearances.

Despite his absence, the Braves have continued to play well, going 8-5 in the 13 games Acuña has missed. Atlanta has maintained the best record in MLB at 32-15 and even improved its first-place lead in the NL East by a half-game, leading the Philadelphia Phillies (24-23) by eight games.

Acuña has missed time due to injury in each of the three seasons since he won NL MVP in 2023. In 2024, he tore the ACL in his left knee and appeared in only 49 games. That injury sidelined him until mid-May last year. After returning, Acuña also struggled through a back injury and right calf strain, ultimately limiting him to 95 games.

To clear a spot on the roster for Acuña, infielder Kyle Farmer was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained right forearm. Farmer, 35, has appeared in only 10 games for the Braves, batting .286/.267/.357 with one extra-base hit in 15 PAs while playing second base, shortstop and designated hitter.