Page 64 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

RONALD ACUÑA JR.
FRONT OFFICE • His only home run led off Game 1 of the Division • He is one of three National Leaguers in
history to win that award in their age 21
Series, off Miami’s Sandy Alcantara…At 22 years,
293 days, became the youngest player in baseball
season or younger, joining St. Louis 3B
history to hit a leadoff homer in a postseason
game. Albert Pujols (2001 as a 21-year-old) and
Los Angeles P Fernando Valenzuela (1981
• It was the fourth such homer in Braves as a 20-year-old).
postseason history…Bill Bruton first did so • Braves 2B Ozzie Albies, 22, also received
MANAGER & STAFF it was later matched by Marquis Grissom Albies are the first teammates in major-
a Silver Slugger in 2019…Acuña Jr. and
in Game 2 of the 1958 World Series, and
league history age 22 or younger to win
in Game 2 of the 1995 Division Series
Silver Sluggers in the same season.
and Marcus Giles in Game 2 of the 2001
League Championship Series.
• Acuña Jr. was the first Atlanta player to • Was the eighth Braves player to win
a N.L. Jackie Robinson Rookie of the
step to the plate in the series…He is the Year award, capturing 27-of-30 first-
RONALD ACUÑA JR. series with a home run in the team’s first Association of America (BBWAA) in 2018…
13th player in history to start a postseason
place votes from the Baseball Writers’
RH Craig Kimbrel was the last Atlanta
plate appearance…The last player to do so
player to receive the award (2011).
was Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz in the 2019
A.L. Wild Card Game.
the Month after becoming the first N.L.
• Went 6-for-15 (.400) with three extra-base hits • In August 2018, named the N.L. Rookie of
(2 2B, 1 HR) in the first three games…Over the rookie over the previous 110 seasons to
collect at least 39 hits and 11 home runs
last nine contests, had just four hits in 31 at-bats
SEASON IN REVIEW (.129) with two extra-base hits, both doubles, and • Has 81 career home runs in his first 313 career
in a calendar month…Hit .336/.405/.698
(39-for-116) with 11 home runs, 21 RBI
one RBI.
and six stolen bases in 30 games.
• Played through lingering left wrist
soreness.
major league notes games…Only five players in history have more
through their first 313 major-league games…Ryan
Howard had a record 95 through this period,
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Silver Slugger (2x, 2018, '19; OF), All-MLB Second while Gary Sánchez had 91, Aaron Judge and
• Awards: N.L. All-Star (2019), Louisville Slugger
Bob Horner had 87 and Chuck Klein had 83…
Team (2x, 2019, '20; OF), BBWAA N.L. Rookie of
Hall-of-Famer Joe DiMaggio also had 81.
the Year (2018), N.L. Rookie of the Month (8/18),
• His 81 homers are the 16th most in history
N.L. Player of the Week (2x, 8/19/18, 4/14/19).
• Selected to his first career All-Star Game
15 players ahead of him, Acuña Jr.’s 1,404
in 2019 and started in center field for the for any player prior to turning 23…Of the
National League…He was 21 years, 203 plate appearances are easily the fewest…
days old on the day of the game, making In fact, Giancarlo Stanton (1,498) is the
BRAVES HISTORY an All-Star Game and the third youngest • In 2019, his first full season, became just
only other player on that list with fewer
him the youngest Braves player to start
than 1,800 plate appearances.
player in franchise history to earn a
selection (Hank Aaron in 1955 and Ozzie
40 home runs in a single season prior
Albies in 2018). the third player in baseball history to hit
• Also participated in the T-Mobile to his 22nd birthday, joining two Hall of
Home Run Derby that week…Defeated Famers in Eddie Mathews, who hit 47 in
Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell in the first round, 1953 as a 21-year-old, and Mel Ott, who
OPPONENTS hitting 25 home runs to Bell’s 18…Lost in Ott was younger at the time of his 40th...
had 42 as a 20-year-old in 1929...Only
the second round to eventual champion
Acuña Jr. was 21 years, 275 days when he
Pete Alonso…The first baseman hit 20
home runs, while Acuña hit 19. hit his 40th on 9/19 against Philadelphia,
while Mathews hit his when he was 21
• Has won Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger
awards each of the last two seasons as years, 316 days…Acuña Jr. was the 12th
one of three N.L. outfielders…His first Braves player (23rd overall) to hit 40
MISCELLANEOUS 64 becoming the youngest Braves player to
homers in a season.
such award, in 2019, came at age 21,
win a Silver Slugger.
2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE