Ronald Acuña Jr. is officially back, and the timing could not be scarier for the rest of Major League Baseball.
The Atlanta Braves activated Acuña from the injured list this week, adding their superstar back into a lineup that already owns the best record in baseball at 32-16. Atlanta has somehow managed to dominate the league despite injuries to major players throughout the season, and now their biggest star is returning just as the team is hitting another level.
The numbers are ridiculous. Atlanta has scored 250 runs while allowing just 164, giving them a +86 run differential that ranks near the top of baseball. Only the Dodgers currently have a better differential, but the Braves have the wins to separate themselves from the rest of the league.
What makes this even more impressive is the adversity Atlanta has faced. Sean Murphy recently went down with another injury, Acuña missed time with a hamstring issue, and the Braves have constantly had to shuffle pieces around. Yet none of it has mattered.
Now imagine adding a healthy Acuña back into that mix.
Acuña changes games immediately with his speed, power and energy. He is one of the few players in baseball capable of completely changing the feel of a lineup the second he steps onto the field. Pitchers have to approach the Braves differently when he is leading off, and it creates easier opportunities for the hitters behind him.
The scary part for the National League is that Atlanta does not even need Acuña to carry them right away. This team is already rolling. His return simply raises the ceiling even higher.
The Braves already looked like World Series contenders without him. With Acuña back and expected to ramp up over the next few weeks, Atlanta suddenly looks like the team everyone else in baseball will be chasing.
