RADIO
Ronald Acuna Jr. 2023 Player Outlook: Poised For Strong Season
2 years agoAtlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. looks poised for another strong season atop the National League East club's lineup. The 24-year-old appeared in 119 games for Atlanta last year, hitting .266 with a .351 on-base percentage, 15 home runs, and 29 stolen bases in 533 plate appearances. Of those 533 plate appearances, 528 of them came as Atlanta's leadoff hitter. Acuna Jr. should continue to thrive in that role, especially after a 2022 season in which he finished in the 92nd percentile or better league-wide in hard-hit rate, xSLG, and xwOBA. Given how productive he was on the basepaths this past season, it wouldn't be a total shock if the former Rookie of the Year approached his 2019 metrics with a full season's worth of plate appearances in 2023. During the 2019 season, Acuna hit 41 home runs and stole 37 bases. He has as good of a shot as anyone of finishing as fantasy's top player not named Shohei Ohtani in 2023.
