ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr. sent Walt Weiss a text Wednesday morning to inform the Braves’ manager he was ready to return to Atlanta’s lineup 24 hours after he exited Tuesday’s game with a left shin contusion.
“He almost had me for a minute, but I just didn't feel right about it,” Weiss said. “What if he fouled another ball off in the same spot, or he favors it just a little bit while he's running and pulls something else?”
Acuña had a chance to rest on Wednesday, but he’ll be back in right field for Thursday’s series finale against the Reds. He took swings in the batting cage and walked around without a limp on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling better,” Acuña said. “When that ball hit me, I was in pain.”
Acuña suffered the contusion when he fouled Brandon Williamson’s 3-1 cutter off his left shin. He immediately fell to the ground in pain and then went back to the ground after gingerly taking a couple steps toward the dugout. X-rays and a CT scan showed no fracture.