The Atlanta Braves endured a harsh step back this past season after several injuries to key players.
Over the course of the campaign, the team lost Reynaldo Lopez, Austin Riley, Chris Sale and others to a range of injuries. Ultimately, the team saw its seven-year playoff streak end as it failed to make the postseason and now long-time manager Brian Snitker will be moving on.
Last week, however, the team did get a bit of good news on one key player who has been plagued by injuries when outfielder superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. received the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award.
“Acuna, 27, tore his left ACL on May 26, 2024, and returned to the Braves this past May 23 and made his fifth All-Star team,” the Associated Press reported. “He hit .290 with 21 home runs, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.”
Acuna was excellent in his truncated season for the Braves, but a second serious ACL injury for his career has raised some questions about his future with the team. Before the injury, he was advocating for an extension to his eight-year, $100 million contract that would allow him to remain with the team for the rest of his career.
Under his current deal, he could become a free agent as soon as 2027. The team owes him $17 million for next season, then it has two $17 million club options beyond that. If the team does exercise both club options, Acuna would have the chance to explore free agency as a 31-year-old in 2029.
Last week, he indicated that he plans to end his career with the team.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Acuna shared a photo from his Comeback Player of the Year Award ceremony, writing “Braves4EVER.”
When asked if he would promise to stick with the team, he offered a two word response in the replies section: “I PROMISE,”
