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Ronald Acuna Jr. remains bright spot in dismal Braves season
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr (13) slides into second base after hitting a double to drive in a run against the New York Yankees. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Ronald Acuna Jr.'s brilliance remains bright spot in dismal Braves season

The 2025 season has been a good news-bad news situation for the Atlanta Braves. The bad news? The team has been wildly disappointing and enters the second half of the season 11 games under .500 and nine games out of a playoff spot. The good news? Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has not only returned to full health after missing half of last season due to another major knee injury, but also returned to being one of the best players in baseball.

He continued to prove that on Friday night when he unleashed one of the most ridiculous throws of the season, throwing out New York Yankees third baseman Jorbit Vivas at third base.

It was a seemingly impossible play.

Along with plays like that, he also entered Friday's game with a 1.025 OPS that would rank second in all of Major League Baseball (behind only Aaron Judge) if he had enough at-bats to qualify for the league lead. He's also already hit 12 home runs and accumulated 2.2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) despite playing in just 45 games. The only Braves player with more this season is Matt Olson with 3.6 in 95 games.

When healthy Acuna Jr. is not only one of the most productive players in baseball, he's also one of the most electrifying and exciting. 

The fact he has been able to come back from a second major knee injury and immediately start dominating is a great sign for the Braves. Maybe not this season as it may have already slipped away from them in terms of the playoffs, but certainly for next season and beyond. They need him to not only be healthy, they need him to be a game-changer. He is back to that level. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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