Braves phenom Ronald Acuna is putting up big numbers so fast that it’s hard to keep up with all of them. So here’s a summary:
4: That's how many players in MLB history have led off both games of a doubleheader with a home run – Harry Hooper (May 30, 1913), Rickey Henderson (July 5, 1993), Brady Anderson (Aug. 21, 1999) and Acuna (Monday). Hooper and Henderson are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
10: That's how many home runs Acuna has hit since moving to the top of the Braves' batting order 23 games ago. He has hit four leading off a game.
4: That is the number of consecutive games (through Monday) in which the 20-year-old Acuna has hit a home run, making him the youngest player in MLB history to homer in four consecutive games.
6: That's how many home runs Acuna has hit in the Braves' past seven games.
3: That's how many Braves players over the past 110 seasons have hit 15 career home runs before age 21 – Andruw Jones (26), Eddie Mathews (25) and Acuna (17 and counting). Acuna doesn't turn 21 until December.
5-for-8, 5 RBI, 5 runs, 2 HR, 2 walks, 1 double, 1 stolen base: Those are Acuna's box-score totals from Monday's doubleheader sweep of the lowly Miami Marlins.
11: That's how many points Acuna raised his batting average for the season Monday, from .271 at the start of Game 1 to .282 at the end of Game 2.
.344: That is Acuna's batting average (31-for-90) since becoming the Braves' leadoff hitter immediately after the All-Star break.
(Sources: Elias Sports Bureau, Baseball Reference, National Baseball Hall of Fame, Braves. All statistics are through Monday’s games.)
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TODAY’S LEADOFF LINKS
> Mark Bradley revisits the inspired trade in which the Braves acquired Touki Toussaint from the Diamondbacks. Read his column here.
> There is an increasing chance, Chris Vivlamore writes, that Tiger Woods could make his long-awaited return to Atlanta and the Tour Championship. Read the story here.
> As work continues on the makeover of Philips Arena, the Hawks announced Monday that several of the building's new premium spaces are sold out for the 2018-19 season. Read the story here.
