RADIO
Ronald Acuna Jr. 2020 Outlook: Power and Speed Galore
5 years agoAtlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. did everything he could in 2019 to prove that his Rookie of the Year-winning 2018 campaign was no fluke. Despite his average and OPS taking a minor hit, Acuna still managed to mash a career-high 41 home runs with 101 RBI and led the National League with 37 steals. Looking at 2020, there will likely be a slight regression with his power, as his 24.8 percent HR/FB rate was his highest mark at any level of his career, as well as a 3.7 percent bump up from 2018. But on the other hand, Acuna could see a slight rise in his average after posting a .337 BABIP last year — 15 points lower than in 2018 — and he has also shown improved plate discipline with a 10.6 percent walk rate — his highest mark since 2016. Owners should expect 35 homers, 30 steals and an average somewhere around .285 from Acuna in 2020. In other words, he’s a no-brainer top-5 pick in all formats and a definite top-2 pick in NL-only leagues.
