Ronald Acuña Jr. is back like he never left, as the Atlanta Braves superstar was named National League Player of the Week for June 9–15 after an explosive stretch at the plate. But even his heroics have not fully pulled Atlanta out of its funk.
Josh Smith: 11-for-26 (.423 AVG), 5 XBH, 9 R
Ronald Acuña Jr.: 13-for-21 (.619 AVG), 3 HR, 8 RYour @Chevrolet AL and NL Players of the Week! pic.twitter.com/VxltmwKEby
— MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2025
Ronald Acuña Jr. Makes Immediate Impact in Return
Acuña rejoined the Braves lineup on May 23, nearly a year to the day after tearing his left ACL. At the time of his return, Atlanta was just below .500 with a 24–25 record, fresh off a two-game sweep by the Washington Nationals.
After opening the season 0–7 on the road, the Braves fought their way back above .500 by May 13, only to fall back again shortly after.
Acuña, however, wasted no time making an impact. He homered on the first pitch he saw back in action, but his return didn’t immediately turn the tide. Atlanta lost two of three in his first series back against the San Diego Padres, part of a brutal stretch in which the Braves dropped six consecutive series.
By the time they suffered a sweep by the San Francisco Giants in mid-June, the Braves had fallen to 27–37. Despite the skid, Acuña continued to shine. Through his first 15 games back, he posted a .304 batting average with four home runs and seven RBI.
Acuña Takes Home NL Player of the Week
Last week finally offered a glimmer of hope, and Acuña was at the center of it. The Braves snapped their series losing streak with a pair of wins over the Milwaukee Brewers, thanks in part to their star right fielder. Acuña hit two home runs and drove in four runs in Milwaukee, striking out just once in 12 plate appearances.
The momentum carried over into the weekend, as Atlanta returned home and took two of three from the Colorado Rockies. Acuña collected six hits, scored five runs, homered once, and stole his first base since returning, a welcome reminder of the abilities of the founder of the 40-70 club.
Over the course of the week, Acuña hit .619 with three homers, six RBI, and a 1.788 OPS. Since his return, he leads MLB in on-base percentage with .478 and trails only Aaron Judge in OPS, posting a 1.179 OPS.
His performance earned him NL Player of the Week honors, but Acuña’s dominance can’t fully mask Atlanta’s broader issues.
The Braves may be showing signs of life, but if they hope to save their season, they’ll need more than just Acuña’s heroics. The spotlight is on the star, but the pressure now shifts to the rest of the roster ahead of a three-game series against the NL East-leading New York Mets.
Main Photo Credit: © Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
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