Ronald Acuña Jr. Returns, Impresses with Power in Fantasy Baseball

ATLANTA, Ga. — Ronald Acuña Jr. made a triumphant return to the MLB this weekend, hitting two home runs in his first two games since recovering from a torn ACL. Acuña showcased his elite power, with one home run registering an impressive exit velocity of 115.5 mph, suggesting he is back to form.

Acuña’s return comes after an extensive recovery period, taking nearly a year to recover compared to just over nine months from a previous ACL injury in 2021. In contrast to his lackluster performance in 2022, where his batting average plummeted to .255, Acuña appears rejuvenated, averaging 105.3 mph on his batted balls this weekend.

“I feel great,” Acuña said. “I just want to help my team win.” His manager and teammates are optimistic about Acuña’s ability to maintain his power while perhaps being less aggressive on the base paths.

Meanwhile, in other league updates, pitcher Grayson Rodriguez displayed consistency with a 1.71 ERA this season before being sent back to Triple-A. Though fans are frustrated, team manager Pat Murphy clarified that the decision was based on schedule adjustments, not performance issues.

“We have some options, and it’s been about the schedule,” Murphy said. “Grayson has been our best pitcher, and we expect him to be back soon.”

Additionally, Alex Bregman is facing his own injury challenges after suffering a quad injury earlier this week. Bregman’s uncertain timeline for return has opened up opportunities for other players, including prospect Marcelo Mayer, who made his MLB debut this weekend.

Mayer, who was given a chance due to Bregman’s injury, has potential, but experts advise having reasonable expectations for his performance. He is expected to provide solid contributions but is not projected as a game-changer in fantasy leagues.

As the season progresses, players like Shea Langeliers, who is performing well, and struggling pitchers like Jacob deGrom will be closely monitored. DeGrom, who did not record a strikeout in his last appearance, raised concerns about his health despite having no immediate injuries reported.