ImpactAcuna will remain sidelined for the duration of Atlanta's Grapefruit League slate and is expected to stick around at extended spring training to continue rehabbing when the regular season begins, but the 24-year-old is seemingly right where the organization expects him to be in his recovery from ACL surgery. Though Acuna has said that he feels ready to play in games, the front office understandably prefers to take a more cautious approach with the team's most important player, who underwent the right knee procedure last July. Since incorporating more change-of-direction sprinting into his training regimen likely represents the final hurdle Acuna will need to clear before making his 2022 debut, Atlanta will ease him back into action as a DH, but he should be ready to reclaim his usual starting role in the outfield soon thereafter. Anthopolous previously indicated that late May was the initial target timeline for Acuna's return to the outfield, but after getting feedback from the training and medical staffs, the GM said Acuna will be cleared to resume defensive work sooner than expected.
MARCH 23, 2022•ROTOWIRE
