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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 18 July 2023

Braves’ Acuña is on pace to set new baseball standard

By CHARLES ODUM .333 batting average while
AP Sports Writer leading the majors in runs
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald and hard-hit balls.
Acuña Jr. is on pace to do Perhaps most impressive is
more than just join an elite the plate discipline Acuña
40-40 club in baseball his- has demonstrated even
tory. while being an aggressive
The Braves outfielder is batter who attacks first
threatening to obliterate pitches. Acuña’s strikeouts
the previous high mark for have declined each month
power-speed combination this season. He has only two
in a season. strikeouts with seven walks
Of the four players who in 43 July at-bats.
have delivered seasons “I think he’s going up there
with at least 40 homers and and I think he’s keeping it
40 stolen bases, none ac- simple but keeping a pre-
complished the feat with cise plan and he’s going
more than 46 steals. Acuña up there and executing,”
is on pace for 41 homers said Braves third baseman
and 77 steals. He could be- Austin Riley. “I think there’s
come the charter member Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. beats the throw to steal second base in the third something to be said about
of baseball’s 40-50, 40-60 inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Atlanta. keeping things simple, es-
Associated Press
and 40-70 clubs. pecially in this game, and I
“It would mean a lot to me reer high, are big reasons day night’s games. the ball 500 feet and steals think he’s doing that.”
personally just because I the Braves (61-31) boast the Acuña is only part of a bases and throws guys out Riley has played with
feel like not a lot of players majors’ best record as they powerful Atlanta lineup and makes great plays in Acuña since low Class A.
have been able to accom- prepare to open a three- that also features Matt Ol- the outfield. He does it all. He says he’s always seen
plish something like that,” game home series against son’s NL-leading totals of 30 We love having him on our five-tools talent in Acuña’s
Acuña, who is from Vene- Arizona on Tuesday night. homers and 77 RBIs. Even squad and leading off ev- game. Riley says he’s see-
zuela, said Sunday through Even after losing two of Olson is blown away by ery night.” Acuña already ing something different this
a translator. “But my goal three to the Chicago White Acuña’s all-around domi- is the first player to hit 20 season as Acuña is deter-
maintains the same, just try Sox to end their streak of 11 nance. “He’s doing things homers with 40 steals and mined to take advantage
to stay as healthy as pos- consecutive series wins, the that I’ve never seen be- 50 RBIs before the All-Star of his good health, now
sible and help the team Braves led second-place fore,” Olson said Sunday. break. fully recovered after tear-
win.” Acuña’s 23 homers Miami by 9 1/2 games in “He’s got all the tools. He He ranks second in the ing the ACL in his right knee
and 43 steals, already a ca- the NL East entering Mon- works good at-bats and hits National League with his in 2021.q

Aaron Rodgers’ training camp debut is getting a ‘Hard Knocks’

close-up

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets made it official Monday: Their first train-
ing camp with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers is getting the “Hard Knocks” treatment.
The team announced its featured role in the long-running HBO and NFL Films show,
which offers a behind-the-scenes look at preseason work for an NFL team. The premiere
for the 18th edition of the show is Aug. 8.
Rodgers’ arrival in New York after 18 stellar seasons with Green Bay certainly made the
Jets an appealing subject for the show.
Coach Robert Saleh said last month that the Jets weren’t interested in being the show’s
subject, but Rodgers made it clear last week during the American Century Champion-
ship golf event in Lake Tahoe that they’d have to do it anyway.
“There’s a lot of eyes on me, a lot of eyes on our team, a lot of expectations for our
squad, so they forced it down our throats and we’ve got to deal with it,” Rodgers said.
This is the Jets’ second appearance on “Hard Knocks” and first since Rex Ryan’s team
did it in 2010, which also marks the most recent time the Jets made the postseason in the New York Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers smiles during an NFL
longest-active skid in the league.q football news conference at the Jets’ training facility in Florham
Park, N.J., Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Associated Press