The Atlanta Braves' best player returns from a long-term knee injury just in time to face the Cubs in the rubber game of a three-game series Thursday — a week earlier than anticipated.
The Braves announced Thursday morning that young superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has been activated from a minor-league rehab assignment, more than nine months after undergoing right knee surgery for a torn ACL suffered July 10 in Miami.
He was 7-for-19 (.368) with three stolen bases in six rehab games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
The former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star had a .990 OPS at the time of the injury, which occurred on a leaping attempt at a fly ball on the warning track in right field.
The Braves went on to win the World Series despite the loss of Acuna.
The Cubs beat the Braves 6-3 in 10 innings Wednesday night.
