Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 2026 campaign has gotten off to a slow start. Despite coming into this season motivated and as Acuña Jr. called it “200 percent” healthy the Braves All-Star right fielder and the reigning NL Comeback Player of the Year is only batting .194 with 7 hits, 2 RBIs and a run scored in 10 games this season.
This year is the last guaranteed year of Acuña Jr.’s 8-year, $100 million contract extension that he signed with Atlanta back in 2019. However, the Braves do have $17 million club options for 2027 and 2028, with a $10 million buyout.
Talks about giving the five-time All-Star another contract extension have been a hot topic for the local and national media, and earlier today The Morning Shift explained why they think Acuña Jr. still hasn't done enough to garner a big contract extension from the Braves yet.
“I’m still a little bit holding out because I think Ronald Acuña Jr. is a phenomenal player and when healthy and when playing at the top of his game he’s a top three player, but other than ‘19 and ‘23 what am I paying him for? Getting hurt? Being inconsistent?” Beau Morgan said
Beau finished his thought by saying “For a franchise that hasn’t paid guys that have performed year in and year out like Freddie [Freeman] did and Max Fried did, what am I paying him for? He’s got two seasons. I’m not a hater. I love the dude, but he’s had two seasons of being the best player in baseball and everything else I don’t know. He hasn't stayed healthy and then he’s had lulls.”
The 2023 NL MVP still has plenty of time to turn it on, and if he stays healthy he most likely will turn his season around at some point. It will only be a matter of time, but Acuña Jr.’s early season struggles do raise questions about whether or not the Braves should wait to give him another contract extension now or later.
