Page 65 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

RONALD ACUÑA JR.
• In 2018, his rookie season, became just • Hit a leadoff homer in three straight
the fifth player in baseball history to games, all against Miami in August 2018… FRONT OFFICE
reach 26 homers in a season prior to He is only the second player with as long
his 21st birthday, joining Mel Ott (42 in of a streak in baseball’s modern era (since
1929), Frank Robinson (34 in 1956), Tony 1900)…Baltimore’s Brady Anderson holds
Conigliaro (32 in 1965) and Al Kaline (27 the major-league record, doing so in four
in 1955). consecutive games from 4/18-21/96…
• Is one of 17 players in the modern era with Acuña Jr.’s streak ended on 8/15, after he
two 20-homer seasons before his 22nd was hit with the first pitch by the Marlins’ MANAGER & STAFF
birthday...Of the 16 prior, seven hit 500 José Ureña.
home runs (Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Mickey • That streak began on 8/13, when he
Mantle, Eddie Mathews, Frank Robinson, hit leadoff homers in both ends of a
Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodríguez), while doubleheader…He is only the fourth
eight are in the National Baseball Hall of player in history to accomplish that,
Fame (Ott, Williams, Mantle, Mathews, including the first in the National League…
Robinson, Griffey Jr., Al Kaline and The others to do so were Anderson and
Orlando Cepeda). Hall-of-Famers Rickey Henderson (1993) RONALD ACUÑA JR.
• Hit his 50th career home run on 7/21/19 and Harry Hooper (1913).
against Washington...He was 21 years, • In 231 career games hitting out of the No. 1 spot
215 days old at the time of the homer, of the lineup, has batted .289/.385/.568 (264-for-
the fourth youngest player in baseball 914) with 67 home runs and a 148 wRC+…Only
history to reach that milestone...The three George Springer (75) and Francisco Lindor (70)
younger were Mel Ott, Tony Conigliaro have more homers out of the No. 1 spot since
and fellow Braves outfielder Andruw 2018, while just Mookie Betts has a higher wRC+
Jones. (160; min. 1,000 PAs). SEASON IN REVIEW
• Hit his 60th career home run on 8/13/19, • Began the 2019 season primarily hitting
becoming the sixth player in baseball out of the No. 4 spot…Permanently
history to hit that many home runs prior moved to the leadoff spot on 5/10, where
to turning 22...He joined Mel Ott (86), he hit out of the rest of the season and all
Tony Conigliaro (84), Eddie Mathews (72), of 2020.
Frank Robinson (60) and Ken Griffey Jr. • Had 34 home runs and 78 RBI from the
(60). spot of the lineup in 2019, franchise PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
• Has twice homered in at least four straight single-season records hitting first.
games...Is the only player in history to • Led off in the starting lineup for the
have two home run streaks of at least four first time in his career on 7/20/18 at
games before his 22nd birthday…He first Washington in the first game out of the
did so in five straight, from 8/11-14/18, to All-Star break...Went 3-for-4, while hitting
tie the franchise modern-era record for a home run and robbing one in the fifth
most consecutive games with a homer... inning...Also stole two bases, and at 20
He also did so from 8/6-9/19, when he years, 214 days, became the youngest BRAVES HISTORY
homered in four straight. player in baseball’s modern era (since
• Has a Braves franchise-record 19 leadoff home 1900) to homer and steal two bases in the
runs…Over the last three seasons, only OF same game.
George Springer (21) has more such homers. • Has started each of Atlanta’s 21 postseason
• Hit eight leadoff home runs in 2019 to games since his debut (11 in CF, 6 in RF and 4 in
set the franchise single-season record, LF)…Has hit .263/.372/.500 with eight doubles,
passing the previous mark of seven, set one triple, three homers and nine RBI. OPPONENTS
by Marquis Grissom in 1996…Had seven • His 12 extra-base hits are the most such
the year prior, 2018, the second most in hits by any player in postseason history
the N.L. that season behind L.A.’s Joc before their 23rd birthday.
Pederson (9)…Playing those seasons at • His eight doubles are two off the major-
ages 20 and 21, his 15 leadoff homers league record for most such hits in a
between the seasons were 10 more than player’s first 21 postseason games…
any other player in history before turning Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun had a record 10,
22…Mike Trout had five. while five others had nine. MISCELLANEOUS

2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE 65