Braves' Ronald Acuna named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America
The 19-year-old Acuna led the minors with 181 hits in 2017
By
Mike Axisa
•
2 min read
Baseball America, the foremost authority on prospect coverage, named Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna its 2017 Minor League Player of the Year on Friday.
Acuna, 19, was signed for a mere $100,000 out of Venezuela back in 2014. He led the minors with 181 hits this season and hit .325/.374/.522 with 31 doubles, 21 home runs, and 44 steals in 139 games at three different levels. Most impressively, Acuna performed even better each time he was promoted:
| PA | AVG/OBP/SLG | 2B | HR | SB | % Better Than League Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-A | 126 | .286/.336/.478 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 39% |
Double-A | 243 | .326/.374/.520 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 59% |
Triple-A | 243 | .344/.393/.548 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 62% |
In High Class-A, Acuna was roughly four years younger than the average player in the Florida State League. He was five years younger than the average player in the Double-A Eastern League and nearly eight years younger than the average player in the Triple-A International. Having that sort of season at that age at those levels is truly remarkable. The Andruw Jones comparisons are not unwarranted.
For what it's worth, MLB.com current ranks Acuna as the seventh best prospect in the minors. Here's a snippet of their scouting report:
Acuna has the chance to be a true five-tool player. He's already showing an advanced approach at the plate, especially for his age. His raw power is just starting to show up in games and it could be a plus tool when all is said and done, coming from a buggy whip of a swing. Acuna's speed is also legitimate, and it helps him be a basestealing threat as well as play a plus center field. If he matures to the point where center isn't the best option, his strong arm would play just fine from an outfield corner. His instincts, reads and routes would work from any of the three outfield spots.
Given his advanced bat and success at Triple-A this season, Acuna figures to get a long look in the spring next season. The Braves have a full outfield with Ender Inciarte, Matt Kemp, and Nick Markakis, though of those three, Inciarte is the only long-term keeper. Neither Markakis nor Kemp should stand in Acuna's way once he's ready.
Baseball America's other finalists for their Minor League Player of the Year award were Diamondbacks righty Jon Duplantier, Orioles outfielder Austin Hays, and Blue Jays infielders Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
White Sox infielder Yoan Moncada won the Minor League Player of the Year award last season, when he was still with the Red Sox. Previous winners include Kris Bryant, Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, and Frank Thomas.
