The Future got a locker all to himself in the Braves’ major league spring clubhouse (there are prospects older than he who are doubling up). After all, isn’t that what this spring training is all about, making room for The Future?
It is a prime spot that Ronald Acuna occupies, directly next to the doorway that leads from the clubhouse to the coaches’ offices – his bosses can’t help but pass by him all the time, and no doubt smile to themselves every trip. Over that doorway, almost like a standing thought bubble above the new kid’s head, is painted one inspirational word: Passion.
Apt enough for a 20-year-old who, among his other utterances Thursday during the first interview in Florida, said this: “Baseball is my true passion and I love it. It’s something I feel that I’m good at, it feels like that’s the only thing to focus on because that’s what I care about.” That, through the imperfect filter of a interpeter, was a response to the question about how he keeps all the fuss over him in perspective.
Acuna, the prodigy in the outfield, a headliner on all your lists of top prospects, the one who sailed through the minors a year ago as a feather on the breeze, is the great curiosity of this Braves spring.
The fact that he does not speak English, that he maintains the distance of a Venezuelan in a strange land, only enhances the mystery around him.
We can make what we will of this enigma, and the imagination does run wild. Upon this blank canvas, it is possible to draw up any kind of spectacular career. And that’s exactly what’s been happening, even before he secures a roster spot.
Because all we can report as fact at this stage of spring is that Acuna could make the walk from bullpen to batting cage without tripping and that he didn’t once swing and miss at any of the balls set on the tee for him in the cage.
The dominant impression from Thursday was of an island of calm amid the storm. For all his youth and inexperience, Acuna appeared unfazed by the expectations. He seemed very comfortable auditioning for the starring role.
Not an inaccurate impression, said Luis Salazar, Acuna’s manager last year at Double-A Mississippi, the person most familiar with Acuna at this embryonic stage.
“I know there are lot of people who the first name they say is Acuna. Everybody wants to be around this kid,” Salazar said. “He’s just going to try his best, compete. He’s thinking, keep doing what I do in the past and try to be the best I can be.
“He is focused on everyday baseball. He knows how to prepare himself. I don’t have to worry about (handling the notoriety). I see him every day. No issue.”
Telling was Acuna’s response to a question that is likely to dog both him and the Braves throughout this spring: Do they dare put him on the opening-day roster? Or, regardless of how well he may perform in the spring, do the Braves make the business decision and send him to Triple-A for that first month, which ultimately would give them another season of contractual control?
“I want to make that decision as hard for them as possible,” Acuna said. “If they decide to send me down to Triple-A, I want to make it a tough decision. I want to make it to the point that I’m playing well enough that they really don’t have much of a decision.” His inner confidence (what the kids call swagger, I think) burst through even the constraints of working through an interpreter.
Oh, and as an editorial aside, let me suggest that it would make no sense for the Braves to squander that extra year of control just to have Acuna for this opening day. Don’t care if he hits .750 this spring.
What’s a few weeks at the front end of a season of lowered expectations? What, are those few weeks the difference between the Braves winning 75 games or 80? You’d like to believe he’ll be far more valuable – and the big picture far brighter – at the other end of his contract.
So, do your time in the minors, kid. There’ll be plenty of time to shine on the main stage.
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