As a kid, Ronald Acuña wouldn’t miss a Home Run Derby.
So to be able to win one?
“It would mean a lot,” Acuña said through interpreter Franco García on Tuesday. “I’ve always liked to compete in home run derbies. As a little kid, I always dreamed about winning one in the big leagues.”
Acuña is excited to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby, the second of his career. Braves batting practice coach Tomas Perez will pitch to Acuña at the July 18 event at Dodger Stadium.
The field – the known participants thus far – is good. Mets slugger Pete Alonso, who has won the Home Run Derby the last two years, will defend his title. Washington’s Juan Soto and Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber will participate. So will Albert Pujols, a Cardinals legend.
There will be a lot of talent in Los Angeles, but the Braves’ 24-year-old superstar is confident he can win.
“Always,” Acuña said. “Any time I go out to compete, my goal is to win.”
Acuña said he won’t change his approach from the last time he participated.
“Every swing,” he said, “I’m trying to have it leave the yard.”
Entering Tuesday, Acuña had eight home runs and 22 RBIs. His OPS is .801. Injuries have slowed him at different points and he has struggled at times – for his standards, at least – but he’s still a five-tool talent. He’s one of the game’s top players.
He will take center stage in a fun event.
“It’ll be fun to watch,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s really good at (hitting home runs).”
Acuña knows he might need to pace himself in the first round. He’s not sure about the specifics. He’ll think about those.
Advice? Acuña, one of baseball’s top power hitters, won’t need any for this event.
“You just got to be able to hit homers,” he said.
Kenley Jansen expected to be activated Wednesday
The Braves expect to activate Kenley Jansen on Wednesday, Snitker said. The closer has been on the injured list with an irregular heartbeat.
Jansen was eligible to come off the injured list on Tuesday, but it became clear he would not do so when he threw a bullpen session on Monday.
Without Jansen, the bullpen has still pitched well.
“They’ve been awesome,” Snitker said. “It’s unbelievable what they’ve done. Wouldn’t have allowed us to be as successful as we’ve been without those guys being able to adjust to different roles and things like that.”
Mike Soroka throws bullpen session
Mike Soroka, who suffered a minor setback when a comebacker hit him in the knee recently, threw a bullpen session on Monday, Snitker said.
So did right-hander Kirby Yates, who is working to return from elbow surgery.
Snitker said he doesn’t know when they’ll return and won’t have an idea until both Soroka and Yates head out on rehab assignments. But the Braves’ thought has always been that both would return early in the second half of the season.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Who will start the All-Star Game?
As manager of the National League All-Star team, Snitker will have options when it comes to who will start on the mound.
It could be Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, who has a 1.73 ERA through 18 starts.
Or it could be the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin, who has a 1.62 ERA over 16 starts.
But recently, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts publicly advocated for Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw. The thought: This would be a nice honor for Kershaw.
So what will Snitker do?
“I keep coming back to it’s an exhibition game, so it’s entertainment,” he said. “Honestly, I haven’t talked to MLB yet to see what their ideas are.”
Snitker also mentioned Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who will be in the dugout for the All-Star Game, talking to other pitching coaches to see if their players could be used in the game.
The All-Star Game is July 19 at Dodger Stadium.
Braves have flurry of minor-league promotions
There has been a lot of movement in the Braves’ farm system. Some promotions became official on Tuesday.
The most notable is shortstop Vaughn Grissom, the organization’s No. 4 prospect on MLB Pipeline. He went from High-A Rome to Double-A Mississippi. He hit .312 with an .891 OPS over 298 at-bats in Rome. He homered 11 times and drove in 55 runs.
Outfielder/third baseman Justyn-Henry Malloy, the Braves’ No. 28 prospect, made the same move. Over 263 at-bats in High A, he hit .304 with an .889 OPS, and had 10 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Right-handed pitcher J.J. Niekro went from Single-A Augusta to High-A Rome. He is Braves legend Phil Niekro’s nephew. Over 15 games, eight of them starts, J.J. posted a 2.09 ERA in 73 1/3 innings.
