The Atlanta Braves seem to be getting it together gradually as they stand third with a 24-23 record, reaching the .511 mark this season. But another good news coming from the center is about their outfielder, Ronald Acuña Jr, who will likely return to Atlanta’s next home series that begins on May 23. But not many have still forgotten the drama that gained traction after he made a post that read, “If it were me, they would take me out of the game.” However, the good thing is that Acuña Jr. has apologized to the manager and his teammates and it has been well received by the Braves clubhouse.

For those unaware of the incident, in the last month, Jarred Kelenic didn’t run hard to the bases, which he mistakenly thought to be a home run. But despite that, Brian Snitker didn’t bench him and that’s what angered Ronald Acuña Jr. He vented his frustration on social media, blaming Snitker for not benching Kelenic, unlike him, who received a penalty following a similar play in 2019. However, all’s well that ends well.

Acuna Jr., who’s been recovering from a torn left ACL, has now deleted the post and apologized to the manager, During a press conference, he said, “I was in the wrong. I shouldn’t have done that. But thankfully I was able to apologize to Snit, man-to-man, to his face. I was able to apologize to my teammates. And now we’re just turning the page and moving on.”

Snitker took it positively, praising him for admitting his mistake because it really “takes a lot” to accept the mistake and apologize.

However, it’s still not clear whether Acuña Jr has had any talks with Jarred Kelenic or not. But yes, Snitker seems content with his apology, as he went on to say, “I think it was a good time for him to do that. It takes a lot to do something like that.”

The Brav clubhouse also seems to have reacted positively to the apology. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, “The Atlanta organization was pleased that Ronald Acuña Jr. apologized to manager Brian Snitker and his teammates for his social media comment last month criticizing Snitker for not benching outfielder Jarred Kelenic when he did not run hard out of the batter’s box after hitting a ball that he mistakenly thought was a home run.”

While the tense social media spat surely turned the heads of many, it is true that the lingering cloud of drama now seems to be gradually fading away after Acuña Jr. broke silence on the spat and the Braves manager accepted it, too.

Acuña Jr. also cited his frustration with the situation. “I’m coming off a second major injury; I’m in Florida away from my teammates; the team is struggling. Those were sort of the things that were frustrating me. I want to be here in Atlanta my whole career,” he said, clearly stressing the frustration building in him for not being able to help his team. But how far is he from his return?

When can Ronald Acuña Jr. make a return to the Braves?

Well, that’s a tough question to answer at the moment. However, Ronald Acuña Jr. has definitely been showing some good signs of recovery, as he managed to post a home run in the rehabilitation game on Saturday. Once struggling with a 0–7 record, the Atlanta Braves have now improved to 24–23, which is evidence of their talent and commitment. Now, when Acuña Jr. returns, this comeback will undoubtedly get a significant boost.

Acuna Jr. is expected to resume his play for the majors during Atlanta’s homestand that will start on May 23. In addition, his performance with the Triple-A Gwinnett during his rehabilitation assignment has been nothing short of remarkable. In addition to batting at a .444 average, he has recorded two home runs and two RBIs.

Acuña Jr.’s return is anticipated to happen soon, and there is a great deal of hope and anticipation for it, even though there are still concerns about whether or not the ACL tear will affect his performance.

As for the fans, they are not only about to witness a successful season for the Braves but also a remarkable story of a comeback, which may soon be highlighted by Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return.