![\"Atlanta](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_79,w_3000,h_1687\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/229\/01jzqzdm4ebzhy3mdr1e.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThis is the one time it might be worth being selfish if you’re Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Atlanta Braves have a difficult decision to make with Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. and whether he will be available for the upcoming Midsummer Classic.<\/p>\n
Acu\u00f1a has been dealing with some back discomfort, getting scratched from Tuesday’s lineup against the Athletics.<\/p>\n
The team and the player have tried to downplay the situation, but not only does it threaten to force him to miss more time this season, he could even miss playing in front of the home fans as Atlanta hosts All-star weekend for the first time since 2000.<\/p>\n
Acu\u00f1a himself is a bit conflicted. He wants to be there for his team, but playing in front of Braves fans at Truist Park in the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby is just as exciting.<\/p>\n
This Braves season is in flux, to put it kindly, so there could be some added pressure about forcing Acu\u00f1a onto the field before it’s safe to do so.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve seen the Braves mishandle returns from injuries already this year, so if they did rush Acu\u00f1a back, it\u2019s not an outlandish move by them.<\/p>\n
But is it truly worth it? Back injuries are a bit tricky and any further tweak could be catastrophic. The Braves and Acu\u00f1a have a decision to make.<\/p>\n
The Braves are on the very fringes of the Wild Card race, so is there really a wrong answer?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. missing the All-star weekend in Atlanta would be a sour stain in his Braves career Getting to play in the All-Star events while being the host city has to be the sort of feeling that Acu\u00f1a might not have the chance to get again.<\/p>\n If the Braves\u2019 season was better than it is, then I\u2019d say the All-Star events would take a backseat. But there\u2019s not really much for the Braces to look forward to this year.<\/p>\n Taking into account Acu\u00f1a\u2019s injuries over the last year, competing in the Home Run Derby would be a nice pick-me-up.<\/p>\n The Braves are fourth from the bottom in the Wild Card race and 13 games back in the NL East standings. There isn\u2019t much left for Acu\u00f1a and this team to play for. Once the Midsummer Classic passes, baseball in Atlanta will be boring again.<\/p>\n Acu\u00f1a deserves one last hurrah this season.<\/p>\n Acu\u00f1a shouldn\u2019t force coming back for the All-Star events if he doesn\u2019t feel healthy. But if it\u2019s a game-time decision, it just might be worth it. Who knows if he\u2019ll have a chance to wow Braves fans in the Midsummer Classic again while he\u2019s in Atlanta.<\/p>\n Then again, if he participates before he’s ready and suffers a setback, the Braves wouldn’t hear the end of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is the one time it might be worth being selfish if you’re Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. The Atlanta Braves have a difficult decision to make with Ronald… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":67473,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nIf I\u2019m Acu\u00f1a, maybe I get a little selfish and save myself for the All-Star Game and not rush back before then.<\/p>\n