The Atlanta Braves are one of the better stories of the 2018 MLB season and there are many reasons for their stunning resurgence. Freddie Freeman is one of the National League’s best players, Nick Markakis is enjoying a bizarre and impressive late-career breakout and young second baseman Ozzie Albies is already operating at an All-Star level. In addition to all of that, youngster Ronald Acuña Jr. has been predictably fantastic, living up to off-the-charts prospect hype.
Acuña got a late start to the 2018, debuting on Apr. 25, and he was also forced to the disabled list for a full month between late-May and late-June. With that said, he is rounding into full-fledged form as a potential star at this point and that upside has been on full display over the last five games.
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The 20-year-old outfielder blasted a lead-off home run for the third straight game, extending his streak of games with a home run to five consecutive. ESPN Stats & Info bring word that, in addition to becoming the youngest player ever to go yard in five straight games, Acuña also matched the Braves’ franchise record for consecutive games with a home run. Lastly, his streak of three straight games with a leadoff home run is the longest such run since 1996 and, well, Braves fans have to be greatly enjoying the show.
As noted above, Atlanta isn’t overly reliant on the brilliance of Acuña as they pursue a return to the playoffs but it certainly helps to have a legitimate five-tool player poised for future stardom. Obviously, his current pace is unsustainable but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Acuña became one of the best players in the league sooner rather than later and this particular binge could act as a springboard to that logical conclusion.
