NEWS: Ronald Acuña Jr.’s early slump is concerning fans, front office

Concern is beginning to build around Ronald Acuña Jr. as the Atlanta Braves star has stumbled out of the gate in the first weeks of the 2026 season, raising questions about whether he has fully recovered from the serious injury that derailed much of his 2024 and 2025 campaigns.

Through the first couple of weeks, Acuña is hitting barely over .200 with no homers, 2 RBIs, and a below .600 OPS, well under the standard he established as one of baseball’s most dynamic players. His timing at the plate has looked inconsistent, and he has been noticeably less aggressive on the basepaths, with only two stolen bases so far.

The slow start is particularly jarring when compared to his historic 2023 MVP season, when Acuña hit more than 40 home runs and stole 73 bases while leading the league in OPS, hits, and runs scored. That year cemented him as the game’s premier five-tool talent at 25 years old.

The Braves, who are leading the NL East in the standings, aren’t missing his offense as of yet. But fans and the front office are watching closely, hoping this early slump is simply a temporary setback—not a lingering effect of the injuries that have clouded his recent seasons.

Ian D’Andrea from Philadelphia, PA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, LatinoBaseball.com illustration