Ronald Acuna

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 2018
  Acuna's father Ron was a long-time Mets minor leaguer. But from an early age, the elder Acuna knew that his son would likely end up the better player. Ronald signed for $100,000, choosing the Braves over the Royals, and was advanced enough to begin his pro career in the U.S. in 2015. Acuna missed much of 2016 with of a thumb injury and began 2017 at high Class A Florida. The Braves were confident he was ready for an in-season promotion--and they were right. Acuna blitzed through Double-A Mississippi in just two months and was even better for Triple-A Gwinnett, earning Minor League Player of the Year honors. The Braves' experience with Andruw Jones, who similarly jumped three minor league levels in a POY season in 1996, influenced their decision to move Acuna aggressively. They quickly realized he thrived when challenged. Acuna has a wide range of strengths and few glaring weaknesses. Multiple scouts predicted multiple all-star appearances in his future. He's the rare prospect who actually carries future 60 (or better) grades on the 20-80 scale for all five tools. Acuna is a 70 runner with 70 defense who has a 60 arm and 60 hit tool. Many scouts project him to future 70 power. He already uses the whole field, and he went deep six times in 2017 to right or right-center field. Acuna used the opposite field more often as the season progressed. Not coincidentally he became tougher to strike out. Scouts looking for flaws noted that his strong arm is sometimes inaccurate and he could sometimes be stymied by quality fastballs up and in. But he already shows an ability to lay off breaking balls and velocity out of the zone. When he gets a pitch to hit, Acuna has extremely fast hands with strong wrists that whip the bat through the zone with excellent bat speed. He already generates exceptional exit velocities, which should pay off with 25-30 home runs once he matures. Even though he has fewer than 1,000 minor league at-bats, Acuna is big league ready and will head to spring training expected to play a significant role in 2018. With Ender Inciarte in center field, his initial role will be left or right fielder. The track record for 20-year-old big leaguers is spotty, but Acuna's defense and plate discipline should help ease his transition.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #6 prospect in 2017
  The Braves have been aggressive in challenging Acuna since he signed for a modest $100,000 in 2014. He performed well in his U.S. debut after bypassing the Dominican Summer League in 2015 and proceeded to get off to a fast start at low Class A Rome in 2016 before a broken thumb sidelined him from mid-May to mid-August. Despite the injury, Acuna displayed his electric tools in all phases of the game. He uses his plus speed to cover center field from gap to gap and has the arm strength to play any position in the garden. He reads balls well, takes good angles and shows impressive anticipation along with excellent first-step quickness. Acuna is aggressive at the plate but has above-average discipline for a teenager. While his body is still developing, he has plus raw power and barrels pitches consistently with his above-average bat speed. Those traits should allow him to hit for average at higher levels. He needs work on stealing bases more consistently but has the speed to make an impact on the basepaths. His shortened season at Rome notwithstanding, Acuna should open the 2017 campaign at high Class A Florida after making up for lost time in the winter Australian Baseball League. Though risky, Acuna has as high a ceiling as any Braves position player.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #26 prospect in 2016
  Signed out of Venezuela on July 2, 2014, for $100,000, Acuna opened eyes in his first taste of pro ball. The 17-year-old skipped the Dominican Summer League in 2015 and never looked overmatched in either the Rookie-level Gulf Coast or Appalachian leagues, where he ranked as the Nos. 11 and 14 prospect, respectively. Acuna impressed the Braves in minor league camp with his outstanding feel for the game, which convinced the organization to challenge him against older competition. He showed plus speed in center field and on the bases and should be a stolen-base threat at higher levels. He takes good routes to balls in the gaps and flashed well above-average arm strength with solid accuracy and carry on his throws. Acuna has quick hands and an aggressive swing but has advanced plate discipline. He barrels pitches consistently and showed excellent raw power that should generate solid extra-base production as his body matures. Acuna projects as more of a gap-to-gap hitter and profiles as a table-setter. He could push his way to low Class A Rome in 2016.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #1 prospect in 2017
  Acuna began the year in high Class A before pushing all the way to Gwinnett and getting better at every level. He has a mature hitting approach, tantalizing tools and all-star potential. Acuna's bat speed is elite, which will produce above-average power or better. He has excellent feel to hit and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. More power could come as Acuna continues to develop physically, with 30 home runs a possibility. On top of that, Acuna is currently a plus-plus runner, though he needs to become a more efficient basestealer and improve his decision-making on throws. He has plus arm strength from center field, and evaluators have pegged him as an above-average to plus defender.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 2017
  Simply reaching Double-A would have been an accomplishment for Acuna, who missed three months with a broken thumb while at low Class A last year. Instead, the 19-year-old's mature hitting approach earned him promotions to Double-A in May and Triple-A in July. All told, the high-energy center fielder batted .325/.374/.522 with 21 home runs and 44 stolen bases. Acuna has superstar potential because all five of his tools grade as plus or better. His outstanding power to all fields made Mississippi's spacious park look small, and when he stays short to the ball he can turn around velocity with ease. He will hit for a high average because he identifies pitches well and lines the ball gap to gap. With his top-of-the-scale speed, Acuna is an excellent baserunner and prolific basestealer, albeit an inefficient one. He shines in center field with plus-plus range and arm strength as well as strong instincts.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2016
  Acuna missed the majority of the season with a thumb injury that sidelined him from mid-May to mid-August. But in the first and last months of the season he showed the well-rounded range of tools that make him a prospect with one of the highest ceilings in the Braves system. Acuna is a plus runner who runs down balls in the gaps as an above-average center fielder. For example, he ran down a ball deep in the right-center field gap in the SAL playoff finals, then spun and threw out a Lakewood runner for a double play. His above-average arm will also play in right field. At the plate, Acuna shows plus to plus-plus raw power and has demonstrated average power in games. He uses the whole field and makes enough contact to continue to hit for average as he matures.
• 
  Ranked National League #14 prospect in 2015
  Acuna signed with the Braves for $100,000 in 2014 and played the 2015 season as a 17-year-old. He has an exciting combination of athleticism and feel for the game, and he did not appear overmatched against older competition when promoted from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to Danville in August. Acuna showed off plus arm strength and above-average to plus speed in center field. He has a chance to develop into a plus defender, thanks to surprisingly mature instincts. Offensively, Acuna has a knack for making hard contact, and he took consistently competitive at-bats with Danville. He is able to drive the ball from gap to gap with authority, and he started to tap into his power towards the end of his time in the Appy League. He finished the season on a nine-game hitting streak.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #11 prospect in 2015
  Acuna signed for $100,000 last year on July 2 and has quickly made the Braves' scouts in Venezuela look smart. Not only did Atlanta skip Acuna over the Dominican Summer League, they promoted him in August to the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he continued to hit. Acuna has a balanced, well-rounded skill set, with a chance for five average to plus tools. He's a quick-twitch athlete with a strong, projectable build. He's advanced at the plate, with good bat control to make consistent contact, and he works the count with an aggressive, but under control, approach. He has sneaky pop with good leverage in his swing, flashing average raw power during batting practice. Acuna is a plus runner and a stolen-base threat, and his solid-average arm, good range and instincts will play in center field. He will hit toward the top of the lineup and play a premium position.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #67 prospect in 2017

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Acuna's father Ron was a long-time Mets minor leaguer. But from an early age, the elder Acuna knew that his son would likely end up the better player. Ronald signed for $100,000, choosing the Braves over the Royals, and was advanced enough to begin his pro career in the U.S. in 2015. Acuna missed much of 2016 with of a thumb injury and began 2017 high Class A Florida. The Braves were confident he was ready for an in-season promotion--and they were right. Acuna blitzed through Double-A Mississippi in just two months and was even better for Triple-A Gwinnett, earning Minor League Player of the Year honors. The Braves' experience with Andruw Jones, who similarly jumped three minor league levels in a POY season in 1996, influenced their decision to move Acuna aggressively. They quickly realized he thrived when challenged. SCOUTING REPORT: Acuna has a wide range of strengths and few glaring weaknesses. Multiple scouts predicted multiple all-star appearances in his future. He's the rare prospect who actually carries future 60 (or better) grades on the 20-80 scale for all five tools. Acuna is a 70 runner with 70 defense who has a 60 arm and 60 hit tool. Many scouts project him to future 70 power. He already uses the whole field, and he went deep six times in 2017 to right or right-center field. Acuna used the opposite field more often as the season progressed. Not coincidentally he became tougher to strike out. Scouts looking for flaws noted that his strong arm is sometimes inaccurate and he could sometimes be stymied by quality fastballs up and in. But he already shows an ability to lay off breaking balls and velocity out of the zone. When he gets a pitch to hit, Acuna has extremely fast hands with strong wrists that whip the bat through the zone with excellent bat speed. He already generates exceptional exit velocities, which should pay off with 25-30 home runs once he matures. THE FUTURE: Even though he has fewer than 1,000 minor league at-bats, Acuna is big league ready and will head to spring training expected to play a significant role in 2018. With Ender Inciarte in center field, his initial role will be left or right fielder. The track record for 20-year-old big leaguers is spotty, but Acuna's defense and plate discipline should help ease his transition.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Braves have been aggressive in challenging Acuna since he signed for a modest $100,000 in 2014. He performed well in his U.S. debut after bypassing the Dominican Summer League in 2015 and proceeded to get off to a fast start at low Class A Rome in 2016 before a broken thumb sidelined him from mid-May to mid-August. Scouting Report: Despite the injury, Acuna displayed his electric tools in all phases of the game. He uses his plus speed to cover center field from gap to gap and has the arm strength to play any position in the garden. He reads balls well, takes good angles and shows impressive anticipation along with excellent first-step quickness. Acuna is aggressive at the plate but has above-average discipline for a teenager. While his body is still developing, he has plus raw power and barrels pitches consistently with his above-average bat speed. Those traits should allow him to hit for average at higher levels. He needs work on stealing bases more consistently but has the speed to make an impact on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: His shortened season in Rome notwithstanding, Acuna should open the 2017 campaign in high Class A after making up for lost time in the winter Australian Baseball League. Though risky, he has as high a ceiling as any Braves position player.