The Atlanta Braves will enter the 2026 MLB season with a new voice at the helm, as Walt Weiss takes over for longtime manager Brian Snitker after being promoted from bench coach. Weiss inherits a roster loaded with talent, headlined by superstar right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.
Acuna, now 27, is expected to be fully healthy after injuries limited him to just 95 games last season. Even in a shortened campaign, he still earned an All-Star selection and captured the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award.
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He posted a .290 batting average, .417 on-base percentage and .935 OPS, with 21 home runs and 42 RBIs. While those numbers reflect his elite ability, Acuna’s game was not without challenges in 2025. Recovering from his second ACL tear, his defense showed signs of decline and his trademark speed was nonexistent, as he stole only nine bases compared to the 50-plus totals that once defined his dynamic style.
This offseason, however, Acuna has made it clear he is determined to return to form. He has regularly shared videos of his knee rehab and has been stealing bases while competing in the Venezuelan Winter League, a promising sign for his explosiveness.
Weiss has taken notice, and the new manager is strongly considering moving Acuna back into the leadoff spot. “It’s enticing to have him at the top of the order,” Weiss said (h/t Mark Bowman of MLB.com). “I really like when a lineup turns over and there’s teeth right away. If you’re a pitcher, you’ve got to run through a gauntlet as soon as the lineup turns over.”
Acuña’s return to the leadoff role would give Atlanta immediate firepower at the top of the lineup, setting the tone for a deep batting order that also features Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies. If Acuna can recapture his blend of power and speed, the Braves will once again boast one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball. His health and production will be pivotal not only for Weiss’s first season in charge but also for Atlanta’s pursuit of another postseason run.
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Across eight MLB seasons, all with Atlanta, Acuna has already built an impressive track record. He won NL Rookie of the Year in 2018, captured the MVP in 2023 and has earned five All-Star selections along with three Silver Sluggers. His historic 40-home run, 70-steal campaign in 2023 cemented him as one of baseball’s most dynamic stars.
With Weiss stepping in and Acuna poised to reclaim his elite form, the Braves enter 2026 with championship aspirations and the belief that their star outfielder can once again be the driving force behind a deep postseason run.