Seconds after MLB return, Ronald Acuna Jr. blasts off HR on first pitch vs Padres

Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. had been away from major league action for almost a year after suffering an ACL injury on May 26. However, the 2023 National League MVP made an instant impact in his first game since his injury as he went deep in his first at-bat on his season debut against the San Diego Padres on Friday.

Playing his first game since returning from a lengthy hiatus, the Braves star lined Padres ace Nick Pivetta for a monster 467-foot no-doubter on his first pitch of the game in the first inning. It was also the first time he had ever faced Pivetta in the MLB.

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Following his solo home run, Ronald Acuna Jr. replicated controversial NBA star Ja Morant's grenade celebration. He had previously copied the celebration during a Triple-A game during his rehab assignment.

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While Acuna sent fans at Truist Park into a frenzy to give his team a 1-0 lead, the visitors fired back instantly as Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets tied the game in the second inning with a solo home run.

The two teams remain locked in with a run each heading into the ninth inning of the series opener.

About the author

Chaitanya Prakash is an editor who covers US Sports at Sportskeeda. His first brush with sportswriting was in 2012 when the greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, bid farewell to the beautiful game.

Although having started out professionally as a cricket writer in 2022, Chaitanya's curiosity and indiscriminate interest in all sports in general eventually introduced him to America's favorite pastime.

While Chaitanya's favorite player from the current crop is the dynamic Venezuelan Ronald Acuna Jr., his all-time favorite, however, is Pedro Martinez, for his self-belief and consistency. He also rates Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip in 2015 as his favorite moment in baseball history.

Chaitanya specializes in reporting on technical aspects of the game or analyzing patterns behind specific plays. He also likes pondering over players' self-assessments following the conclusion of a game as it helps him get an idea of how they think about the sport in general.

When not cheering for his favorites across sports, Chaitanya likes being transported to the past through a good war documentary or a historical documentary in general.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash