Atlanta Braves stars Ronald Acuna Jr. and right-hander Spencer Strider are unlikely to be medically cleared before Opening Day 2025.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters Tuesday that Opening Day is not “realistic” for either player. Both continue to rehab from season-ending surgeries in 2024.
Acuna, 26, tore his ACL on May 26 and Strider underwent elbow surgery a month before after just two starts in the 2024 season.
The Braves start the 2025 regular season with a series against the San Diego Padres on March 27.
“With both guys, I don’t think it’s significant time, but I think we’re confident that Opening Day is not realistic for them,” Anthopoulos told reporters at the general managers meetings. “I think, look, once we get to spring, you get to the beginning of February, you’ll have a much better idea on timelines. We’re planning that they will not be part of the Opening Day roster, and how soon after that, we’ll know more as we get deeper into the offseason.”
Acuna was batting .250 with four home runs in just 49 games before his knee injury. He was coming off his MVP season in 2023, when he hit .337 with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.
Strider, 26, was coming off an All-Star season in 2023, when he went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA.
