The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for the 2026 season with a familiar mix of high hopes and a few early hurdles. The good news?
Ronald Acuña Jr. is finally heading into spring healthy - a welcome sight for Braves fans after a couple of years marked by injury concerns. The bad news?
Promising right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach is expected to miss the start of the season due to injury, dealing an early blow to a pitching staff that’s already had its share of bad luck.
Still, Acuña found himself in the spotlight this past weekend - and not just for baseball reasons. If you caught Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, you might’ve done a double take when you saw Acuña dancing on stage alongside stars like Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Ricky Martin. It turns out the whole thing came together in true showbiz fashion: fast and last-minute.
According to Acuña, he got the call the day of the Super Bowl to join the performance. Talk about a curveball.
But the reigning NL MVP didn’t miss a beat, jumping into the spectacle with the same flair and energy he brings to the diamond. It was a fun, unexpected cameo that reminded fans just how much star power Acuña brings - on and off the field.
Back to baseball, though, and the Braves are looking to rebound after a rare stumble in 2025. Missing the postseason for the first time in eight years left a bad taste, and the reasons were clear: a mix of underperformance and a rash of injuries, particularly on the mound, proved too much to overcome. Schwellenbach’s setback is unfortunate, but there’s optimism that this year’s squad is entering camp in better shape than they have in recent memory.
One of the keys to a Braves bounce-back will be the return to form of core players like Ozzie Albies, who struggled last season. If he and others can get back on track, Atlanta has the talent to make noise in the National League once again. Acuña’s health alone is a major boost - when he’s right, he’s one of the most electric players in the sport.
With Opening Day set for late March, the countdown is officially on. The Braves will be looking to shake off last year’s disappointment and remind the league why they’ve been a perennial contender for nearly a decade. And if Acuña’s offseason dance moves are any indication, he’s ready to put on a show.