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Ronald Acuna arrives with massive expectations for the Atlanta Braves

By Adam Strangis

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Atlanta Braves CF Ronald Jr. Acuna (82) during the MLB Spring Training baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves on March 27, 2018, at SunTrust Field in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Atlanta Braves CF Ronald Jr. Acuna (82) during the MLB Spring Training baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves on March 27, 2018, at SunTrust Field in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The day many baseball fans have been waiting for is almost here, but what will it mean for the Braves future?

If you’re a baseball fan who doesn’t root for a team in the National League East, today is an exciting day. The consensus best prospect in the minors is likely to get the call he’s been dreaming of for years. Ronald Acuna is this close to the majors.

Because it’s a lot more fun to imagine baseball with Acuna playing at the Major League level, let’s just assume he’s been called up — because it’s going to happen.

Coming into the season, it seemed like a done deal that Acuna would get the “Kris Bryant” treatment. For those unfamiliar with the MLB rules, a player needs to be kept in the minor leagues until a certain day to gain an extra year of control. It doesn’t matter if the player should be in the majors. Frankly, it’s a stupid rule. It robs the players and the fans of seeing some of the best players in the big leagues when they should be. Still, that’s an argument for a different article.

With all signs pointing to his call-up, the big question is what to expect from Acuna.

For the Braves, they get to add an exciting young player to an offense that is already in the top eight in many categories. The top four in their batting order could be some form of shortstop Dansby Swanson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and now Acuna. Atlanta may not put that much pressure on him right away. After all, it’s his first big league action. It still won’t be long before Acuna is in a prime batting slot.

Acuna’s minor league numbers are pretty special, considering he was young for every single level he played at. He totaled a .305 batting average with 75 stolen bases, .850 OPS, and 29 home runs.  He became the youngest player ever to win the MVP award in the Arizona Fall League. He’s a legitimate threat to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in the majors this season, despite missing some time to start the season. His ceiling could potentially be as high as 35/35. The scariest part is he just turned 20 years old in December.

Next: MLB: 15 best base stealers of all time

Some in prospect circles have called him the best prospect since Mike Trout. That’s likely a little aggressive. Some people still don’t realize just how good Trout is right now. Even if Acuna can’t quite attain historic levels of production, he’s considered a can’t miss prospect. Maybe he’s not all the way ready yet.

Maybe he’ll continue to crush the baseball this season. Either way, today is a very fun day for baseball and the future of the Braves looks even brighter than it did yesterday.

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