When Ronald Acuna put a ball 405-feet into the center-field seats at Busch Stadium on Saturday, most probably had the same semblance of thought.
He’s back.
Acuna missed 28 games with a left knee mild ACL sprain and left knee and lower-back contusions. He was activated Thursday, and went 0-for-4 in his first game back.
But his second game featured three hits, already the fourth time he’s accomplished such in 31 career games. His fifth-inning double ensured his third game with multiple extra-base hits.
He had the green light on a 3-0 pitch from Luke Weaver. Acuna, who’s always hoping to deposit a fastball, got what he wanted. It was Acuna’s sixth career homer.
“I just tried to make good contact, get some wood on it,” he said through an interpreter. “Every time I go up to bat, I’m primarily looking to hit fastballs. The other pitches are kind of just secondary.
“It’s definitely super emotional and exciting. It’s one of those things where these types of games just jack up your adrenaline. You just go with the flow and see what happens, because you can’t really plan these games. These games happen the way they do. You just ride it and try to make the most of it.”
The 20-year old entered the year as baseball’s top prospect. He hit .265 (31-for-117) with 12 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs in 29 games before the injury.
Cardinals first baseman Jose Martinez is Acuna’s distant cousin. He’s admired not only how quickly Acuna’s ascending the ranks, but with his fellow Venezuelan’s maturity.
“We grew up together since he was little,” Martinez said. “We share a lot of stuff. He’s going to be a really good player. I’m happy for him and I know everyone back home is happy for him.”
Martinez has watched Acuna play since he was a child. They once played winter ball together, one of many times Martinez realized Acuna was born for MLB stardom.
Acuna, regardless of the situation or opponent, carries himself the same. That’s what caught Martinez’s eye.
“Everybody thought, as soon as he was playing with higher levels of baseball players over there in Venezuela, everybody said he was going to be good,” Martinez said. “One time we played in winter ball with me. He was doing tryouts. We had the hardest guy in our bullpen throwing 96, 97 mph. And (Acuna) was there normal, like it was nothing.
“Everybody was saying this guy’s going to be good. Doesn’t matter what you throw him. You throw him a low pitch he can handle it too. To be that young, and to have that idea to go up with the same approach, it’s good. It’s impressive.”
