Acuna's grandfather, a pitcher, and father, a fellow outfielder, played pro ball but never reached the big leagues. After a 2017 season that saw him play, and dominate, across three levels up to Triple-A, there's little question the 20-year-old phenom will easily surpass the two previous generations in his family. He capped his remarkable year off by winning MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League.
It's hard to find a flaw in Acuna's game. He has a buggy whip of a swing and ultra-fast hands that allow him to make hard contact to all fields. His power started showing up, and then some, in 2017, and seeing his 21 homers be a low mark in his career does not sound outlandish. While he did strike out a bit, his K rate did go down each time he moved up the Braves' ladder, with an advanced approach especially given his age. He can flat-out fly, allowing him to make 40-plus steals an annual projection, especially as he gets better at reading pitchers and cutting down his caught stealing rate. That speed works for him in the outfield as well, where he has the range for center and the arm for right field.
While Acuna was in A ball just a year ago, he's ready to break through to the big leagues. Even if the Braves are extra-cautious, no one doubts he will make a big impact in the immediate future, with an almost limitless ceiling.
Statcast - Batting
Season
Pitches
Batted Balls
Barrels
Barrel %
Exit Velocity
Launch Angle
XBA
XSLG
WOBA
XWOBA
XWOBACON
Hard Hit %
K %
BB %
2018
1985
313
42
13.4
90.8
12.9
.264
.522
.388
.366
.458
46.6
25.3
9.2
ALL
1985
313
42
13.4
90.8
12.9
.264
.522
.388
.366
.458
46.6
25.3
9.2
MLB
31264
6.1
87.4
10.9
.246
.399
.317
.313
.362
34.1
21.4
8.2
Rankings
Home Runs
Year
HR
Rank
2018
26
16th in NL
Caught Stealing
Year
CS
Rank
2018
5
21st in NL
Stolen Bases
Year
SB
Rank
2018
16
15th in NL
Transactions
Team
Date
Transaction
06/28/2018
Atlanta Braves activated LF Ronald Acuna Jr. from the 10-day disabled list.
06/22/2018
Atlanta Braves sent LF Ronald Acuna Jr. on a rehab assignment to Gwinnett Stripers.
05/28/2018
Atlanta Braves placed LF Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day disabled list. Left knee contusion and mild ACL sprain.
04/25/2018
Atlanta Braves selected the contract of LF Ronald Acuna Jr. from Gwinnett Stripers.
01/26/2018
Atlanta Braves invited non-roster OF Ronald Acuna Jr. to spring training.
07/13/2017
CF Ronald Acuna Jr. assigned to Gwinnett Braves from Mississippi Braves.
05/09/2017
OF Ronald Acuna assigned to Mississippi Braves from Florida Fire Frogs.
04/04/2017
OF Ronald Acuna assigned to Florida Fire Frogs.
02/25/2017
OF Ronald Acuna assigned to Atlanta Braves.
08/26/2016
Rome Braves activated CF Ronald Acuna from the 7-day disabled list.
08/22/2016
Rome Braves sent CF Ronald Acuna on a rehab assignment to GCL Braves.
05/12/2016
Rome Braves placed CF Ronald Acuna on the 7-day disabled list.
05/12/2016
Rome Braves placed CF Ronald Acuna on the 7-day disabled list.
04/04/2016
CF Ronald Acuna assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves.
08/11/2015
CF Ronald Acuna assigned to Danville Braves from GCL Braves.
