Ronald Acuña Jr's first full season with the Atlanta Braves was nothing short of spectacular. In 2019 Acuña led the league in plate appearances, runs scored, stolen bases with 37, and hit 41 home runs to top it all off. 2020 was a shortened season, then Acuña injured his knee in 2021, which cut his season to 82 games. In those 82 games, Acuña hit 24 HRs and stole 17 bases, roughly the same pace he was on in 2019.
In 2022 Acuña hit 15 home runs and stole 29 bases in 119 games as he was still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in 2021, a career season for some.
Not only has Acuña said publicly that he is returning to his 2019 self in 2023, but Braves managet Brian Snitker believes this too.
”When he comes to Spring Training, he's going to be a full-go," Snitker told Randy McMichael and Chris Thomas.
Can Acuña Jr. become the fifth member of the 40-40 club in 2023? If what Snitker says about Acuña "still growing" is true, 50-50 may be in the cards.