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Ronald Acuna Jr. "Highly Unlikely" to be Traded this Offseason
The Atlanta Braves are "highly unlikely" to trade star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. this offseason, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Acuna is likely to hit free agency following the 2028 season, as Atlanta holds a club option for 2028 that they will almost certainly pick up. While the Braves may not be interested in paying Acuna what it would require to keep him past 2028, it appears that Atlanta is not entertaining moving him now ahead of 2027. Across 469 plate appearances in 2026, the 28-year-old hit .255/.345/.451 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 61 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. While Acuna remains a productive player, he hasn't quite recaptured the magic of his 2023 season, when he hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases. Injuries have been a huge part of the story, as Acuna Jr. missed significant time due to hamstring issues in 2026. If he can get back to full health, Acuna has as high a production upside as any player in baseball.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Braves Pick Up the 2027 Option for Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Atlanta Braves announced on Thursday that they exercised the $17 million 2027 option for outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. It is no surprise that the Braves picked up Acuna's option for next season, even though he missed more time with injuries in 2026. The right-handed slugger and former MVP missed roughly seven weeks this year with hamstring and knee injuries, which ultimately made him more of a bust for fantasy purposes. The 28-year-old Venezuelan outfielder finished with a .255/.345/.451 slash line with a .796 OPS, 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored in 107 games and 469 plate appearances. The five-time All-Star still has league-winning upside, but his lengthy injury history has made him a risk/reward fantasy outfielder going into the 2027 season. Acuna has only played in 150-plus games twice in his nine MLB seasons, but despite missing valuable time with injury in each of the last two seasons, he has still managed to reach the 20-homer mark for Atlanta. The Braves can tolerate Acuna's injuries while he plays on one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Mauricio Dubon in Play for Braves' Starting Shortstop Job in 2027?
Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos had high praise for utility man Mauricio Dubon, saying that he "can't say enough good things about him" and that he feels "very comfortable with (Dubon) at short," per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Dubon emerged as a surprisingly critical component of Atlanta's lineup in 2026, hitting .276/.321/.399 with 12 home runs, 73 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 619 plate appearances. Dubon is now set to hit free agency as he enters his age-32 season in 2027. The veteran had mostly been used as a versatile bench piece throughout his career prior to 2026, as he's shown an ability to line up everywhere on the diamond other than behind the plate and on the mound. However, it appears as though Atlanta could be circling Dubon as a potential stopgap starter at shortstop. The Braves have struggled to fill the shortstop position since losing Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs in free agency following the 2022 season.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Ronald Acuna Jr. Battling Knee Soreness, Serving as DH in Game 3
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.'s knee has been sore since he slid during Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. As a result, Acuna will serve as the designated hitter and bat second for Atlanta in Game 3 of the series in Atlanta against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Lane Thomas will now start in right field and bat seventh, with catcher Sean Murphy heading to the bench. Acuna has a history of knee injuries, so the Braves will get him off his feet as the series heads to Atlanta tied one game apiece. The former MVP has gone 2-for-9 with two runs scored and a stolen base at the plate in the first two games of the NLDS against the Dodgers. The Braves will need Acuna to be at his best for the remainder of the series in order to knock off the defending World Series champions. The five-time All-Star had two separate trips to the injured list during the regular season due to hamstring issues and ended up hitting .255/.345/.451 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored across 408 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Michael Harris II Sparks Braves' Wild Card Series Win on Thursday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II threw the first punch in his team's 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday, hitting a three-run home run in the first inning. Harris II had an excellent series overall, logging five hits in 13 plate appearances to go along with three RBI and three runs scored. The 25-year-old's hot start to the postseason is a continuation of his strong close to the regular season. Across 93 plate appearances in September, Harris II hit .281 with three home runs, nine RBI, 14 runs scored, and two stolen bases. If Harris II can continue to produce at a high level, he could be an X-factor for the Braves in their upcoming National League Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Michael Harris II Heating Up Entering the Postseason
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II put together a resurgent season in 2026, hitting .294/.321/.491 with 26 home runs, 87 RBI, 79 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases across 621 plate appearances. The 25-year-old remains one of the most aggressive hitters in baseball, logging just a 3.7% walk rate this year. However, Harris II's contact quality remains strong, as he posted a 10.3% barrel rate and a 47.6% hard-hit rate. Harris II also enters the postseason running hot, recording seven hits across his final 13 plate appearances of the regular season. If Harris II can continue his recent success in the playoffs, he could be one of the key players in Atlanta's National League Wild Card Series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ronald Acuna Jr. Back in Braves' Lineup on Thursday
Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (shin) is starting in right field and is batting second against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Brady Singer on Thursday, per MLB.com. Acuna fouled a ball off his left shin in Tuesday's game against the Reds and did not start on Wednesday, but he is back for the series finale and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups against Singer. In just five career at-bats against Singer, Acuna is hitting .600 with a solo home run. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star had two separate stints on the injured list this year with hamstring injuries, which have limited his overall production for fantasy managers. Acuna has hit .259 (102-for-394) with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored. Braves fans can breathe a sigh of relief that they did not lose Acuna just before the start of the playoffs next week, and they will be hoping he can carry over his hot hitting in September. In 19 games during the month, he has gone 25-for-74 (.338) with seven homers and 19 RBI in 81 plate appearances.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ronald Acuna Jr. Held Out on Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (shin) is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's contest at home against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, per MLB.com. Brewer Hicklen is making the start in right field for the Braves and will bat eighth against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. Acuna was pulled from Tuesday's game early against Cincinnati after fouling a ball off his left leg. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he was diagnosed with a shin contusion. The Braves are giving Acuna a precautionary day off on Wednesday, but he could be back as soon as Thursday's series finale in Atlanta. The Braves' primary concern will be for Acuna to be ready to roll for the start of the postseason next week. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star missed more time due to injuries in 2026, but he still managed to reach the 20-homer mark in just 104 games played while slashing .259/.352/.462 with an .814 OPS. Acuna has added 55 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored. He has been seeing the ball well in September, going 25-for-74 (.338) with seven home runs, five doubles, 19 RBI, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base in 19 games.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early on Tuesday with Shin Contusion
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (shin) exited early from his team's 4-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday after fouling a ball off his leg. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, X-rays on the leg were negative, and the star outfielder is now being listed as day-to-day with a shin contusion. Acuna Jr. was hitless in one plate appearance before leaving the game. While it appears that he's avoided a serious injury, Atlanta could still choose to be extremely cautious with Acuna Jr. in the final week of the regular season. The Braves have already clinched the National League East title and are likely locked into the number three seed in the NL. Across 455 plate appearances in 2026, Acuna Jr. is hitting .259/.352/.462 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 60 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. If he misses any time, Braves outfielders Brewer Hicklen and Mike Yastrzemski would likely see an increase in at-bats.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Eric Hartman Struggling With Bat Since Call-Up to Double-A Columbus
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Eric Hartman has had a good minor league season at age 20, but has struggled since his call-up in early August to Double-A Columbus. In 34 games with Columbus, the left-handed hitter has two homers and 10 RBI while hitting just .182. He does, however, have 18 stolen bases, which is a great sign despite the struggles in the batting average department. Hartman is the top prospect in the Braves' system and boasts 70-grade speed with a 55-grade hit tool and 50-grade power. Between Columbus and High-A Rome this season, Hartman has shown off that speed with 56 combined stolen bases to go with 26 homers and 74 RBI and a combined .249 batting average. Hartman looks like the real deal with his stolen base threat and that makes him a potential five-tool player and fantasy contributor a few years down the road.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ronald Acuna Jr. Showing Signs of a Late-Season Breakout
Across 400 plate appearances in 2026, Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting .253/.350/.442 with 16 home runs, 45 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Relative to the lofty bar he's set for himself in his career, Acuna Jr.'s numbers so far this season have been underwhelming. However, the 28-year-old has shown signs of a late-season surge in recent games. Across his first 26 plate appearances of September, Acuna Jr. has hit .417 with three home runs and nine RBI. Acuna Jr.'s underlying metrics have generally been trending in the right direction in the second half of the season, as he's posted a 49.1% hard-hit rate since the All-Star break after logging a 43.4% hard-hit rate in the first half of the year. When Acuna Jr. is fully healthy and has everything going at the plate, his five-category upside remains as high as just about any player in baseball. If he continues his current tear, Acuna Jr. could swing fantasy leagues in September.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Eric Hartman Slumping in August, But Elite Speed is Intriguing
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Eric Hartman is slumping to start the month of August at Double-A Columbus, hitting just .152 for the Clingstones with no homers or RBI. Hartman has split time between two minor league levels this season and has generally produced with 24 combined homers and 64 RBI to go with 81 runs scored and 45 stolen bases while hitting .265. The steals jump off the page for the 20-year-old, and his speed could be a weapon at the big-league level and for future fantasy rosters. The No. 2 overall prospect for the Braves has a 70-grade speed tool with a 55-grade hit tool. He looks like a future fantasy contributor because of the stolen base potential, but at Double-A at age 20, he will likely need some more work in the minors before breaking through at the big league level with Atlanta.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ronald Acuna Jr. Extends Hit Streak With Two-Homer Game Against Marlins
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. could be in the midst of coming alive offensively after what was a disappointing and injury-plagued first half of the season. In the team's 11-3 blowout win over the division-rival Miami Marlins at Truist Park on Thursday, Acuna went 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI to extend his current hitting streak to a modest five games. It was the 28-year-old's second multi-homer game of the season and the 16th time in his career. During his five-game hitting streak in August, Acuna has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with three home runs, four RBI, and five runs scored. Since returning from his second stint on the injured list this year with hamstring issues, Acuna has hit .205 (8-for-39) with a .792 OPS, four homers, five RBI, eight runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in just 10 games played. The former MVP still has the talent to be a difference-maker down the stretch, but it's a bit worrisome that he hasn't been running yet since his return. Acuna is now slashing .244/.358/.436 on the season with a .794 OPS, 11 homers, 27 RBI, 15 steals, and 39 runs scored in his 234 at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Braves No. 3 Prospect Eric Hartman Earns Call to Double-A
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Eric Hartman has enjoyed a dominant showing at the High-A level in 2026 and is being rewarded with a promotion to Double-A, per MiLB Central. Hartman is currently viewed as the No. 3 prospect in the system on MLB.com and the overall No. 80-ranked prospect in the sport. Hartman joined the Braves in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft but has quickly put himself on the radar of all dynasty fantasy managers. This season, through 94 games at Rome, Hartman has held a .273/.364/.525 slash line with 18 doubles, 24 home runs and 38 stolen bases. This is worth noting, as he carried a much lower .248/.344/.374 line across 83 games at Low-A the season prior. While he won't be on the redraft radar until late in the 2027 season, Hartman is quickly rising up dynasty boards and is a name to keep a close eye on during the final stretch.
Source: MiLB Central
Source: MiLB Central
Lane Thomas, Bailey Falter Traded to the Braves
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter were traded to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There is no return package for the Royals yet, but that should be announced shortly. This season, Thomas is slashing .230/.325/.392 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 96 games. He doesn't have great stats, but he excels against left-handed pitching. Thomas remains a deep league option, but a move to a better lineup in Atlanta should help his fantasy value. As for Falter, he owns a 13.97 ERA across five appearances this season. He's unlikely to be fantasy relevant unless the Braves work their magic on him.
Source: Mark Feinsand
Source: Mark Feinsand
