The Atlanta Braves are entering the second half of the season outside the playoff picture for the first time in several years, sitting at 50-67 and 17 games under .500.
Underperformance and nagging injuries have plagued the lineup, but none have been more impactful than the absence of Ronald Acuna Jr., who has played in just 55 games.
The 27-year-old superstar has been the face of the franchise since his electric rookie debut in 2018, when he swept NL Rookie of the Year voting and quickly became one of the league’s most dynamic talents.
His performance has never been in doubt, but availability has been a recurring concern.