Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves

Braves: Ronald Acuna youngest to win Arizona Fall League MVP

Center fielder Ronald Acuna (24) of the Rome Braves bats in a game against the Greenville Drive on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, South Carolina. Rome won, 9-1. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images via AP Images)

Credit: Tom Priddy

Credit: Tom Priddy

Center fielder Ronald Acuna (24) of the Rome Braves bats in a game against the Greenville Drive on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, South Carolina. Rome won, 9-1. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images via AP Images)
By
Nov 18, 2017

Braves phenom outfield prospect Ronald Acuna has been named Arizona Fall League MVP. At 19-years-old, he’s the youngest player to win the honor.

Acuna slashed .329/.414/.639 and led the league with seven homers and 22 runs scored in 23 games for Peoria. He also led the league with 12 extra base hits and 53 total bases.

Now the consensus top prospect in the Braves system and arguably the best overall, Acuna hit .325 with 21 homers and 44 steals across three minor league levels. He won several postseason honors, including Baseball America’s player of the year and the organization’s player of the year.

Acuna was the youngest player in Triple-A, and would presumably be the youngest player in the majors next season if he starts on opening day, as expected. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before the conclusion of the season that his goal was to start opening day.

About the Author

Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.

Follow Gabriel Burns on facebookFollow Gabriel Burns on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, right, bench coach Walt Weiss, center, and first base coach Eric Young Sr., react as they watch after Chicago Cubs' Rafael Ortega hit a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Saturday, June 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Credit: AP

What they’re saying about the Braves hiring Walt Weiss as their new manager

2h ago

What to know about new Braves manager Walt Weiss

Weiss follows Bobby Cox, Fredi Gonzalez and Brian Snitker as Atlanta's fourth manager in the past 35 years.

Braves’ Drake Baldwin named finalist for National League Rookie of the Year

While the 2025 Atlanta Braves season was disappointing, Baldwin was routinely a bright spot.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, right, bench coach Walt Weiss, center, and first base coach Eric Young Sr., react as they watch after Chicago Cubs' Rafael Ortega hit a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Saturday, June 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Credit: AP

What they’re saying about the Braves hiring Walt Weiss as their new manager

2h ago

Braves’ Drake Baldwin named finalist for National League Rookie of the Year

What to know about new Braves manager Walt Weiss

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A last request: He asked for water but ended up in a deadly arrest.

Three white former deputies in Central Georgia face a retrial on murder charges after shocking Black pedestrian Eurie Martin with a Taser in 2017.

How two obscure races became a referendum on Georgia Power bills

Georgia Power customers have seen bills rise. Now they get to vote for two members on the state regulatory commission for the first time since 2020.

Spelman College, CAU get $38 million donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Since the 2019 announcement of her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has made significant investments in HBCUs across the country.