Six days after making his major league debut before a small crowd in Cincinnati, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna played his first game on the big stage that is New York City. The results surely will not surprise those who’ve followed the Acuna story.
The 20-year-old phenom doubled and scored in the first inning and had a two-out single in the fourth against Mets flamethrower Noah Syndergaard, helping the Braves to a 3-2 win. That gave Acuna a .417 average with 10 hits, including six extra-base hits in his first six games before Wednesday.
“I get the feeling that that kid just likes playing baseball -- he has fun on the baseball field, it doesn’t matter where he is,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said, smiling as he discussed the budding star. “It’s still that diamond out there, bases are still the same. He’s just playing the game.”
Indeed, Acuna said this week that being baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect and living up to the outsized expectations have not been an issue for the youngest player in the majors.
“I’ve never really felt any pressure, to be honest,” Acuna said through an interpreter. “When I signed I wasn’t really considered a highly touted prospect, so now it’s even better. I feel the same way -- I’ve never really had that pressure.”
Acuna had four multi-hit games in his first six before Wednesday and was 10-for-24 with five doubles, one homer, four RBIs, three walks, a .481 on-base percentage and .750 slugging percentage.
His 10 hits through six games were the most for the Braves since Mack Jones had 10 in his first six games for the Milwaukee Braves in 1961. Acuna’s six extra-base hits through six games were the most in at least the past 110 years of the franchise’s history. (Andruw Jones had five.)
Since moving up to the second spot in the order Sunday at Philadelphia, when Snitker shifted Ozzie Albies to the leadoff spot, Acuna had consecutive two-hit games and was 4-for-8 with three doubles and two walks batting behind 21-year-old Albies, whom he calls his “brother.”
They are the two youngest position players in the majors and arguably the most dynamic 1-2 punch atop any lineup.
“It’s been incredible. A dream come true, to be honest,” Acuna said of his first week in the majors. “And to have him here has been even more incredible.”
Mets veteran Jose Reyes said it was great to see two kids such as Albies and Acuna playing with so much energy and having fun on the field, playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played.
“I’ve always admired Jose Reyes and the way he plays,” Acuna said. “To be honest I’ve tried to emulate a little bit of the way he goes about his business, whether it’s the way he has fun on the field or just the way he does thing.”
