Braves: 3 catalysts for Atlanta in 10-game winning streak
By John Buhler
2. player. RF. Atlanta Braves. Ronald Acuña Jr.. 17. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
The Braves are at their best with Ronald Acuña Jr. in right and batting leadoff
I’ve been trying to tell y’all that you cannot judge this Braves team appropriately until Ronald Acuña Jr. is playing every day in right field and batting leadoff. As arguably the most talented player in the National League, Acuña is the heart and soul of this Braves team. He is ATL to his core, much in the vein city heroes Trae Young and Josef Martinez are. They want all that smoke.
While he is still working his way back from a torn ACL, at least from a sliding and outfield range perspective, his arm is as good as ever, he is an absolute menace on the base paths and he will embarrass and your entire family more often than not at the plate. He is everything that is great about baseball right now. If you don’t like Acuña and what he is about, that says more about you.
Though he may never be the vocal leader of this team, everybody knows he is the most talented guy on the defending World Series champions. The best part in all this is he is no longer taking the game he loves for granted. He is playing as hard as he can every single night. His energy is beyond infectious. Acuña is not beneath doing all the little things to help his team win. He is a total gamer.
Who else on Earth is scoring from first base on a bloop single landing behind the first base bag?