Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. had a moment of pure brilliance this weekend, throwing a ball from deep right on a line to Atlanta's third baseman. The perfect throw caught a shocked runner who had tagged up and ended the inning, helping set the tone for what would be an exciting Atlanta win.
The moment served as a reminder of who Acuña is and why the star remains such an important piece for the organization moving forward. No matter what it takes, the outfielder needs to follow in the path of Chipper Jones, never playing an inning for another team.
It was expected to be Freddie Freeman who served this role before a falling out in free agency left the two sides on different pages. With this in mind, the Braves cannot afford to fumble away another franchise player. Unlike Freeman, the outfielder is a generational talent who has reasons to believe his best seasons are still ahead. The Braves need to consider starting extension talks with the star, unwilling to let the price continue to rise.
UNBELIEVABLE 🤯
— MLB (@MLB) July 19, 2025
RONALD ACUÑA JR. WITH THE CANNON 💪 pic.twitter.com/ulbyTMzjib
Braves Must Begin Extension Talks with Ronald Acuña Jr.
In truth, the throw is a single moment in what is a meaningless regular-season win. The Braves are still far out of postseason contention and have zero reason to believe this is going to change. However, the incredible throw served as a reminder of what this team is supposed to be around its star. Acuña cannot be allowed to walk away, no matter the cost. The star is far too impactful and means too much to a city that is already enduring a difficult season.
Signing Acuña to an extension should be the top priority, even with time remaining on his deal. Atlanta's star is deserving of one of the top deals in the league. The Braves have the open salary and future flexibility to get this done. A single throw serves as a reminder of the importance of this. Without Acuña, the future for Atlanta is far bleaker, with only the rotation being a bright spot of stability.
The longer the Braves wait, the higher the cost is going to be to extend their star. Something they learned the hard way with both Max Fried and Freddie Freeman. Both are less talented players than Acuña and have left no reason for the team to instantly regret the move. With this in mind, there has never been a better time to take the next weeks of the season and focus on extending Acuña.