Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves
2018: The Braves phenom debuted with aplomb, cementing himself as one of baseball’s brightest young stars and locking in the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award. Among rookies, Acuna ranked third in home runs (26, one behind the co-leaders), tied for second in stolen bases (16) and third in wOBA (.388) — in merely two-thirds of a season.
Forecast: Acuna never flexed this kind of muscle in the minors, and his 25.3 percent strikeout rate suggests forthcoming growing pains. If there’s downside in his bat, however, there’s 30-steal upside in his legs. Just beware the sophomore slump (Cody Bellinger can attest). If Acuna is your first-rounder, offset some of his risk by pairing him with a reliable veteran.
2019 Projections: .268 avg., 31 doubles, three triples, 31 home runs, 80 RBIs, 80 runs, 24 stolen bases.
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