Ronald Acuna’s latest display of defensive brilliance was unlike any other.
During the sixth inning of Thursday’s game against the Mets, Acuna tracked down J.D. Davis’ blast to left field, leaping with his arm extended over the wall in a robbery attempt. He came down on the ground, looking as though the ball eluded his grasp before revealing he’d made the catch.
It wasn’t just perhaps the best defensive play of Acuna’s career, but also a perfect example of his electric personality that’s as synonymous with him as his on-field play. He wanted “suspense” in letting spectators wait out the catch, a trick he’d done in the minors but admitted he’d always wanted to execute in the majors.
“I was just trying to time it as the ball was hit, so I was just trying to line it up,” Acuna said through team interpreter Franco Garcia. “Finally as I got to the wall, I jumped and I was able to catch it.”
Long-reliever Josh Tomlin, who was pitching to Davis, had no idea if Acuna came down with the ball in real time. He joked he could’ve done without the fake, however.
“No, no, no (I don’t appreciate the suspense),” he said, laughing. “He made a heck of a play to come down with it. So he’s earned the right to sit and marvel at what he did.”
In typical Acuna fashion, he wasn’t finished. The 21-year-old launched his 35th homer of the year in the ninth, making Thursday his own personal showcase. The Braves did, however, lose to the Mets 10-8 despite hitting six homers.
Acuna’s MVP campaign has caught fire lately, though he still trails the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger and Brewers’ Christian Yelich by most accounts. But Acuna is doing all he can – both in production and the highlight reel – to build momentum toward his cause.
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