Ronald Acuna Jr. is the Key to Consistent Braves Offense?
The Braves Ronald Acuna Jr. has returned begun his rehab assignment in the minors. His return can’t come soon enough for a sputtering Braves’ offense that hasn’t looked the same since his injury.
During the two weeks Acuna has sat out, the Braves are breaking even at 8-8. A tough home series against the Mets and a long road trip that included the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers has been relatively successful, considering the team’s history of woes on the west coast.
His replacement, Charlie Culberson, has played excellent ball in his absence. He posted a .361 batting average, eight RBI, two home runs and some late-inning heroics since filling in his starts from May 28 through June 10. He’s played solid defense as well.
As well as Culberson has played, the team is ready to bring back Acuna.
In the last two weeks, the Braves’ offense has been inconsistent. In eleven games, the Braves scored more than four runs three times. Considering they were on a three-city road trip that included a week on the west coast, the number shouldn’t stand out.
Except the Braves have thrived on their offense this year. 5-3, 10-0, 7-1 scores are not uncommon in Braves wins. Those totals come when offenses are reaching their max potentials.
For the Braves to reach that potential, they need Acuna on the field. While Culberson has done exactly what the Braves have asked of him (and more), he doesn’t possess all the tools Acuna has. Few major league players do.
Specifically, Acuna’s speed and power give the lineup and offense a boost that fill in players can’t provide. He only has two stolen bases in 29 games, but his ability to chase down balls in the outfield and stretch singles into doubles fits well with the type of offense the team plays.
His presence in the lineup gives Atlanta another legitimate power threat. He hasn’t belted out homers like he did in the minors, but as Acuna continues to adjust to big league pitching, those power numbers should go up. He has quick wrists that can create a gorgeous home run arc when he makes good contact. His presence, when he’s on a roll, will alleviate pressure off of Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies.
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The team hopes to have Acuna back when the Padres come to Suntrust park. The sooner he returns, the sooner he can prove what an asset he is to the club.