Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring) hitless in rehab game

The single was hit at 106.9 mph. Acuña is working his way back from the hamstring strain that has sidelined him since near the start of June. The hope is that the 28-year-old star can return during the team’s current homestand which goes through Thursday. Assuming he doesn’t suffer a setback, it seems likely he’s back at the top of the Atlanta lineup in the coming days.

Acuña’s latest minor league rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett was postponed due to rain on Friday. The 28-year-old is in the final stages of his rehabilitation process from a hamstring strain that put him on the shelf back in early June. The Braves have two games left with the Rangers this weekend before hosting the Padres for a four-game set that gets underway on Monday. It seems highly likely that Acuña will return at some point in the next few days, which is a huge development for fantasy managers coming out of the All-Star break.

Over the All-Star break, Acuña had been playing in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Acuña hit a grand slam yesterday for the FCL Braves. Today he’ll be bumped up to Gwinnett, meaning he’s probably in line to return to the bigs in the next couple of days.

Acuña played five innings in right field during his first rehab contest. The 28-year-old fantasy superstar appears on track to return to Atlanta’s lineup following the All-Star break. He’s been brought along slowly in his recovery from a left hamstring issue that has forced him to the injured list on a pair of occasions since early May. He’ll get in a handful of additional rehab contests in the Florida Coast League before his next steps come into focus.

While their major league teammates are getting a few days off, both Acuña and Ha-Seong Kim (finger) will begin their rehab assignments. They will both likely play multiple games in the complex league this week while all affiliates are on a break, and there is a chance Acuña Jr., who has been out since June 10, will return right after the All-Star break concludes. At worst, it seems like the 28-year-old could be back in Atlanta’s outfield by next week.

Weiss confirmed last week that Acuña was a long shot to return to Atlanta’s lineup before the All-Star break. However, it sounds like there’s optimism he’ll make it back shortly afterwards. The 28-year-old has been brought along slowly in his recovery from a left hamstring strain that’s necessitated a pair of injured list stint since early May. There should be a clearer idea of his return timeline once he gets into a couple minor league contests, most likely in the Rookie-level Florida Coast League, at some point next week.

It’s a positive sign that Acuña is back with the club and feeling well enough to swing the stick, even in a simulated surrounding. The 28-year-old is unlikely to return before the All-Star break according to manager Walt Weiss, but it does appear likely the former MVP will be back in action well before the end of July, assuming no setbacks, of course.

Acuña went through a pregame workout at Truist Park prior to Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals as he continues to be brought along slowly from a left hamstring strain that’s required a pair of injured list stints since early May. There’s zero incentive for Atlanta to rush him back too quickly and risk a setback, but it sounds like there’s a chance he’ll make it back in mid-to-late July.

MLB.com’s Mark Bowman adds that Atlanta is going to exercise a fair bit of caution with Acuña’s rehabilitation process since the hamstring injury is in the same spot as the previous strain that kept him sidelined for three weeks earlier this season. The 28-year-old fantasy superstar was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain last week. It’s hardly an official return timetable, but it sounds like fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate Acuña returning until after next month’s All-Star break.

Weiss expressed confidence earlier this week that Acuña’s latest hamstring injury wasn’t as serious as the one that cost him nearly three weeks back in early May. The 28-year-old fantasy superstar hit the injured list prior to Wednesday’s game against the White Sox after an MRI revealed a low-grade strain. It sounds like there’s a strong possibility that he makes it back to Atlanta before the end of June. However, there isn’t an official return timetable from the club yet.