North Port, Florida – Ronald Akwana Junior. He met with the medical staff in Atlanta Prevez on the afternoon of May 26 and exploded when he was told that he had suffered a full tear of ACL on his left knee. But by the time he heard his coach in Venezuela, Juanulol, later on that night, Akoya was an author. He accepted his fate, mocked a comfort in knowing what he could specifically expect and was convinced that a better copy of himself was waiting on the other side. “We’ll do it again,” Akwana told AULAR, the man who led him through ACL torn on his right knee after less than three years. “We will win MVP again.”
AULAR said: “I got chills.”
ACUñA ACL to the first time in 2021, so when AULAR saw His clip collapses on the ground last year in PittsburgHe was concerned that the idea of other arduous rehabilitation might crush the player. This initial phone call provided encouragement. While they started training together again this winter, AULAR Acuña noticed completely different from the last rehabilitation. He was more mature and more focused, but he was also struggling with his identity as he had never happened before. Akwan announced at the beginning that he would not steal the rules, and AULAR spent the best part of 10 weeks to persuade him that he was not forced to take it to this extent.
They have stabilized and changing trend, but also to form a mentality. Changing his style of play was not necessary, as AULAR said again and again. Reducing its intensity level may be really dangerous. He simply needed to choose his sites. The first tear occurred in ACL while Acuña was heading towards the warning path and tried to make jumping near the fence. But the second was the result of forcing the work unnecessarily, to try to steal the third base in the first half of an early match, then harms himself while changing the direction and retreating to the second position.
“He needs to learn how to play with the situation in the game,” the first in Spanish said. “This is the Ronald key.”
ACUñA, 27, played seven seasons in the major championships, but she was completely healthy for two of them. First, 2019, he achieved 41 years, stole 37 bases, stolen. On the second of 2023, the first 40/70 collected a season in the history of the main league and was a unanimous choice for MVP.
Acuña appeared from that year look like the best player in this sport – outside it AutaniPerhaps – but there is no apparently what will seem to be out of a second main knee. Acuña believes that a mixture of good health and more spices will make a “player better than you in 202.” He also seeks to be a little different.
“I prefer to steal 30 and play the entire season instead of trying to steal 70, injure myself and lost the entire year,” said Akwana in the Spanish language.
But achieving the right balance between aggression and controlling often may be difficult for players, and acuña’s attempt appears to be particularly sensitive. The most Braves wants to make it in good health, but they also know that the best copy of it plays with a hint of reckless abandonment. They do not want to lose our universes, but they also do not want him to lose himself.
They hope the time will help.
Braves has not announced a return date for Acuña, but if things go well, it is expected that he will join the squad at some point in May. By that time, his rehabilitation lasted about 12 months, more than the last time. His return will not come with any artificial restrictions either. Its usual location will play in the right field when it starts, instead of getting rest days in the appointed hitting, and will maintain a green light on the rules. Any limits will be subject to self.
“We will make sure of his return, he goes completely, and that he could be himself and play the game he plays,” said Alex Antopoulos, General Manager of Braves. “He is a very competitor, he is a tremendous essential thief, and we will not have any restrictions on him at all.”
Anthopoulos heard about ACUñA’s desire to be more cautious in the rules, although he did not hear from Acuña himself.
He replied: “I will believe it when I see it.
“And I do not mean it in a bad way,” added Antopoulos. “It is just a good basic stole. From a medical point of view, if it is cleared and it was fine, I think he will find a logical sweet spot for him. But we did not tell him anything specifically. Once he returns, the plan is that he returned without restrictions.”
Anthopoulos noticed that Aquia is more “worried and initially” on the outdoor stadium when he returned from the rehabilitation of nine and a half months in 2022. There was a fear of a repeated incident, but ACONEA did not spend enough time to strengthen the lower half. Intermittent days were needed to combat constant discomfort. Acuña did not feel as if he had a strong base enough, and his numbers-A.
This should not be the case this time.
AULAR said: “It is much stronger now.”
Akoya, July, August, most of September, spent during the initial stages of his rehabilitation in Elite Orthosport, the Los Angeles -based training facility, which was recommended by his wounds, Dr. Neil Eatrashi. AULAR then trained Acuña in his hometown of La Sabana from mid -November to the end of January. Braves training staff sent a detailed plan, followed by the two days a week, in five -hour sessions, only less on Christmas and New Year Eve.
By January, Akwana said that he began to feel like himself again. Once the training starts in the spring, his teammates are constantly astonished while operating the wonderful homes while the multiplication. Sometimes it seemed as if he had never left.
“It only resembles himself.” Michael Harris II He said. “He still enjoyed, still being a idiot, still hit the balls over the results board.”
ACUñA is a naturally talented hostility, as he played a 400 -meter starring role during the early teenage years. When he rose through the Braves system, he raised 82 stolen bases in 265 games in the Lunior League. He followed him with 196 theft in majors from 2018 to 2024-in second place in this sport despite losing 30 % of games in this extension. The bases have always been a major part of the identity of Acuña. Few seems convinced that he will surrender, even if it is a little.
“I don’t think he will give up,” the first rule of Braves Olson died He said with laughter. “He is the player he is. Yes, you can choose when you can run and things, but I bet as soon as he returns there, gets his legs under him, returns to the speed of play, and he will be the same Ronald.”
The Braves won a series of six consecutive titles last season, won 89 games and barely infiltrated the qualifiers. the New York Mets She added since then Juan Sotoand Philadelphia Velez Continue to be strength, but Braves will regain the best players: Spencer StraderWho surrendered to elbow surgery after starting only two in the past spring, should return to the top of the rotation before the end of April; Acuña will return to the top of the squad shortly.
Acuña will not play in any matches in the Grapefruit League, but he was taking bats against Braves to refine in his timing. Soon, it will be cleared to cut the exercises. The rehabilitation mission will be followed soon. The fact that the actual baseball games again played its spirits significantly.
“You appreciate things more when you have something like that happens,” said Braian Senicker, Braves director. “You are aware of how much you bless you to get this opportunity to play this game.”
When he asked what he learned after this process had passed before, ACUñA said, “Patience. Not worried.”
He hopes to be better for that.
“I know the type of player I can be,” Aquina said. “I still don’t feel that I got, like my Prime Minister. The most important thing is health.”
