Braves top prospect Ronald Acuna, the youngest player in the International League at 19, was named the league’s Batter of the Week after hitting .481 (13-for-27) with two doubles, three home runs, and eight RBIs in six games for Gwinnett, all on the road.
Acuna led all IL hitters for the week in hits, total bases (24), and home runs for the week to continue a torrid pace that’s seen him hit .355 with 22 extra-base hits (eight homers), a .417 on-base percentage and .618 slugging percentage (1.035 OPS) in 37 Triple-A games since being promoted from Double-A Mississippi last month.
Acuna, also the youngest player in the Double-A Southern League before being promoted, is a strong candidate for the overall minor league player of the year awards presented by Baseball America and others. He has hit .327 with a .379 OBP and .920 OPS in 122 games across three levels this season, with 57 extra-base hits (eight triples, 20 home runs), 72 RBIs, 78 runs and 37 stolen bases.
He’s expected to compete for a spot on the Braves’ opening-day roster in 2018 and could possibly be called up to make his major league debut before the end of this season.
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