Strider, Acu?a progressing from injuries and could provide superstar reinforcements

CLEARWATER, Fla. ¨C This year¡¯s Trade Deadline will arrive on July 31, but the Braves won¡¯t have to wait until the dog days of summer to make some impactful acquisitions.

Atlanta will be adding a bona fide ace to its rotation when Spencer Strider returns from elbow surgery, while 2023 National League Most Valuable Player Ronald Acuña Jr. should rejoin the club shortly thereafter as he comes back from a torn left ACL.

¡°We¡¯re going to make two really good trades here early in the year,¡± manager Brian Snitker said. ¡°We're going to get an MVP and a potential Cy Young Award winner back. I think everybody realizes that. Their presence in the lineup and on the team is going to probably do more than they¡¯ve ever thought possible.¡±

The Braves have a ¡°general idea¡± of when to expect Strider and Acu?a back, though president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos is keeping that information close to the vest in order to create specific expectations.

Strider, who underwent internal brace surgery to repair his UCL last April, could throw in a Grapefruit League game before the Braves break camp. He is likely to begin a 30-day Minor League rehab assignment when the season opens, while Acu?a is taking part in most baseball activities, but has not yet been cleared to play in games. Acu?a will also do a rehab assignment once that happens, opening a 20-day window for him to return.

According to sources, it¡¯s reasonable to expect Strider to join the rotation sometime in late April, while Acu?a¡¯s return should come in early- to mid-May.

¡°The fact that they're very active participants basically throughout the spring is a good sign,¡± Anthopoulos said. ¡°Without having a date right now, we're definitely on the shorter end, Strider more so than Ronald.¡±

Both players have shown the ability to make a huge impact when they¡¯re at their best, but should the Braves be wise to temper their expectations when each returns from their respective injuries?

¡°When they're ready, they'll be back with the team and they'll do their best to contribute,¡± Anthopoulos said. ¡°We know what these guys can do at their peak, but I don't think we have a set expectation other than that these guys are fantastic players and we understand they're coming off injury. We¡¯re taking our time with both of them to make sure that they're in position to stay healthy and perform at a high level for us. I don't know what that means, but the bar is so high because of what they've both done.¡±

¡°When we get them back, we want them to be them,¡± Snitker said. ¡°We're not going to protect them; they're going to be ready to go.¡±

Strider went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA over 186 2/3 innings in 2023, placing fourth in the NL Cy Young vote. A year earlier, the right-hander posted an 11-5 record with a 2.67 ERA in 131 2/3 innings, finishing second to teammate Michael Harris II for the NL Rookie of the Year.

Acu?a¡¯s r¨¦sum¨¦ includes 2018 NL Rookie of the Year honors, the 2023 NL MVP Award (during which he became the founding member of MLB¡¯s 40-homer, 70-stolen base club) and four All-Star appearances. He¡¯s also suffered two torn ACLs ¨C one in each knee ¨C since 2021, so the Braves have experience going to battle without some of their best players.

¡°If anything, we learned last year that you're not doing this with one or two players no matter what; we played the season last year essentially without both guys,¡± Anthopoulos said. ¡°We¡¯ve lived through all of it. You know there's no scenario that you're going to go through a season with 26 players; you¡¯re going to use a lot more than that and you have to be prepared for that. Those guys can only make us that much stronger going forward.¡±

The most encouraging aspect of the situation for Snitker is the approach he¡¯s seen from both Strider and Acu?a this spring. Following the lengthy rehab process, it would only be natural for them to try to prove they can return sooner than expected. That hasn¡¯t been the case, as the pair of All-Stars understand their importance to the Braves over the long haul of the 162-game season.

¡°Seeing how they're handling this whole thing, it¡¯s been unbelievable how they're not sulking, they're not pouting,¡± Snitker said. ¡°They both have great attitudes and are in on everything that we're doing. It makes you feel good to know that they get it.¡±