LATEST NEWS

May 30: RF Ronald Acuña Jr. surgery date set
Acuña will undergo surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee on June 4, he said Thursday. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the operation in Los Angeles. Acuña is out for the remainder of the season due to the injury, which he suffered on May 26.

May 30: RHP Reynaldo López pushed back (rest), LHP Ray Kerr starts Thursday
The Braves had originally slated López to start Thursday’s series finale against the Nationals, before pivoting to Kerr in an effort to get López, and the rest of the rotation, an extra day of rest. López will now start Friday’s series opener against Oakland, per the team.

May 30: LHP A.J. Minter (hip) placed on 15-day injured list
The Braves are down a key reliever after placing Minter on the injured list with left hip inflammation, recalling right-hander Jimmy Herget from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Manager Brian Snitker said Minter had been pitching through discomfort in his left hip for a while, before it came to a head after his scoreless outing in Wednesday’s loss. The veteran lefty has a 2.95 ERA in 25 games this season.

May 29: OF Ramón Laureano signed to Minors deal
Seeking outfield depth in the wake of Ronald Acuña’s season-ending injury, the Braves took a flier on the veteran Laureano, who had recently been released by the Guardians. Now 29, Laureano is a few years removed from the power and speed production he put up as a younger player with the A’s, before serving an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs in 2021.

Laureano hit only .143 with one homer in 31 games for Cleveland this season. He will report to Triple-A Gwinnett. Cleveland is on the hook for the rest of the $5.5 million he's owed this season, though the Braves would pay the prorated MLB minimum if he's added to the big league roster.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

OF Ronald Acuña Jr. (ACL tear in left knee)
Expected return: 2025
Acuña will undergo season-ending surgery on June 4 after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee on May 26 in Pittsburgh. The operation will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Acuña will then remain in Southern California for around 45 days post-op to begin his rehab before returning to the team.

“My goal is to come back as a better player and a better person,” Acuña said on May 30. “Who knows, maybe I can win another MVP.” (Last updated: May 30)

LHP A.J. Minter (left hip inflammation)
Expected return: Late June
Minter had been pitching through hip discomfort, but it worsened after pitching a scoreless inning in the team’s loss to the Nationals on May 29. He was placed on the IL the following day after imaging revealed inflammation that would take more than a few days rest to tamp down. Manager Brian Snitker said he wasn’t sure if Minter would be ready to come off the IL after the minimum 15 days, indicating it could be closer to late June when the left-hander returns. (Last updated: May 30)

RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (left oblique strain)
Expected return: Early August
Smith-Shawver received some bad news on May 24, when a MRI exam showed he has a Grade 2 left oblique strain. He felt some discomfort during the third inning of Atlanta's May 23 game against the Cubs. But he didn't tell the team's medical staff until after he was removed after 4 1/3 scoreless innings. There was no indication of an injury or ailment when he was removed. The 21-year-old hurler is the Braves' No. 1 prospect. (Last updated: May 24)

LHP Tyler Matzek (left elbow soreness)
Expected return: TBD
Matzek posted a 9.90 ERA and produced some concerning hard-hit metrics over 11 appearances. The Braves are hoping he is just going through one of the phases that often follows Tommy John surgery. He'll be given at least a couple weeks to rest his arm. (Last updated: May 7)

RHP Spencer Strider (right ulnar collateral ligament)
Expected return: 2025
After visiting Dr. Keith Meister on April 8, Strider underwent internal brace surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on April 12 and will miss the rest of the 2024 season. (Last updated: April 13)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Angel Perdomo (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Perdomo was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 4. He is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last fall and will miss the entire 2024 season. (Last updated: May 4)

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