Ronald Acuña Jr. wanted back in the Atlanta Braves lineup on Wednesday, one day after a foul ball left him down in pain. Manager Walt Weiss held him out anyway, choosing caution after the right fielder sustained a left shin contusion.
Acuña will return to right field Thursday for Atlanta’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. He used Wednesday as a recovery day, took batting-cage swings and moved around without showing a limp.
Quick facts
- Acuña suffered a contusion on his left shin Tuesday.
- He was injured fouling off a 3-1 cutter from Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson.
- X-rays and a CT scan found no fracture.
- Acuña texted Weiss on Wednesday morning to say he was ready to play.
- He is scheduled to start in right field Thursday against Cincinnati.
The Braves star went to the ground immediately after the pitch struck his shin. He got up and tried to make his way toward the dugout, then dropped down again after taking a few careful steps.
“I’m feeling better,” Acuña said. “When that ball hit me, I was in pain.”
Weiss said Acuña briefly made him consider writing him into Wednesday’s lineup. But the manager was unwilling to risk a second foul ball to the same spot, or have Acuña alter his running stride and create another injury.
“He almost had me for a minute, but I just didn’t feel right about it,” Weiss said. “What if he fouled another ball off in the same spot, or he favors it just a little bit while he’s running and pulls something else?”
With the scans clearing Acuña of any break and the soreness improving, Atlanta can put him back on the field Thursday rather than turn a painful at-bat into a longer absence.
