Player Outlook
Ronald Acuna went as the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy drafts last spring and rewarded that faith by filling up box scores every time he stepped on the field. Not only did he join Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano as the fifth member of the 40-40 club, Acuna also established the 40-50 club, the 40-60 club and the 40-70 club. It was a historically-great individual season that culminated in a unanimous selection for National League MVP. Some amount of natural regression has to be expected in 2024, but there is no evidence suggesting what Acuna did last year was fluky. He ranked in the 100th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG and average exit velocity while appearing in 159 of a possible 162 regular-season games for the NL East champions. Maybe the steals won't be fully repeatable -- Acuna ranked in just the 65th percentile in sprint speed in 2023 -- but he's a smart baserunner with a perpetual green light under manager Brian Snitker. Entering his age-26 campaign, the superstar outfielder should again be first off the board in every standard league.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
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Fantasy Points per Game
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Runs
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Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
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Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 8175.1 149 41 106 80 73 .338
2022 3613 71 15 50 53 29 .266
3y Avg. 5104.3 97 27 69 61 40 .303
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Fantasy News

  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Will play outfield Sunday

    Acuna will start in right field for Atlanta on Sunday for its split-squad game versus the Red Sox, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Acuna returned from his right knee injury in the designated hitter spot Thursday, but this will be his first time playing the outfield since late February. The team and the player seem to have zero concerns at this point about his knee flare-up, so fantasy managers shouldn't have any reservations about clicking Acuna's name at first overall.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Back in action Thursday

    Acuna (knee) went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. Seeing his first game action since Feb. 29, Acuna looked a little rusty at the plate and fanned twice against Zack Littell, but the important thing is that he was back in the lineup. The 2023 NL MVP was limited to DH duties Thursday, but he hit in his usual leadoff spot and Atlanta will ease him back into defensive duties over the next few days. Acuna is back on track to be ready for Opening Day.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Returns to Grapefruit League play

    Acuna (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff Thursday in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Acuna wound up missing two weeks of game action with his right knee injury and will have the next two weeks to get ramped back up before Opening Day. The reigning National League MVP will be eased back into the fold as a designated hitter, but he should resume roaming right field soon.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Taking live BP again Monday

    Acuna (knee) took live batting practice again Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said afterward that Acuna's right knee feels fine and the club is just waiting for the medical staff to clear the superstar to return to Grapefruit League play. Alarm bells were sounded this spring when Acuna developed some irritation in his knee, one that he had surgically repaired in the past, but he's avoided a serious injury and it would appear he's basically back to 100 percent.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Not expected to slow down

    Atlanta manager Brian Snitker downplayed the idea that Acuna might run less this season due to his spring knee issue, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "He's still young and he's still at an age where he can still [steal a lot of bases]," Snitker said Thursday. "He's going to reach a time where he's going to slow down on his own. For now, you've just got to let a kid like that loose and let him play his game." Acuna hasn't seen Grapefruit League action since Feb. 29 due to soreness in his right knee, but Atlanta is still confident that he'll be ready for Opening Day, and Snitker's comments further reinforce that the team has no long-term concerns about the injury. The 26-year-old superstar became the first player in MLB history to record a 40-70 season in 2023, and no player has ever produced back-to-back 40-40 campaigns, giving Acuna a new milestone to aim for in 2024.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Taking batting practice Thursday

    Acuna (knee) will take batting practice on the field Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Acuna is not in Atlanta's Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Red Sox and won't play Friday versus the Pirates either, with manager Brian Snitker declining to offer an exact date as to when the reigning National League MVP will return to action. The 26-year-old remains day-to-day with right meniscus irritation, but the full expectation is that Acuna will be ready to roll for Opening Day.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Still expected for Opening Day

    Dr. Neal ElAttrache confirmed Acuna's diagnosis of irritation in the meniscus of his right knee after examining the outfielder Monday night. Acuna will gradually increase baseball activities and is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Fans and fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief, as the doctor that performed Acuna's ACL repair in 2021 has signed off on the reigning NL MVP ramping up his activities. Acuna was scratched from the lineup last Friday and the visit to ElAttrache set off alarm bells, but it seems he should be fine once the irritation dissipates. Atlanta opens the regular season in a little over three weeks -- March 28 at Philadelphia.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: MRI shows irritation in knee

    Acuna (knee) has undergone an MRI, which showed irritation in his right meniscus, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. After he was scratched from the lineup Friday, Acuna was examined and an MRI was recommended. The plan is for Acuna to see a doctor in Los Angeles to further assess the injury, though at this stage Atlanta still expects the superstar outfielder to be ready for Opening Day. Unless the injury turns out to be more serious than currently believed, he seems unlikely to fall off his perch as the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy for 2024.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Will have precautionary exam

    Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Acuna will have his right knee examined by a doctor, "just to make sure," Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Snitker noted that Acuna is not scheduled for an MRI, adding of the injury that "I don't think it'll be anything." Acuna first felt a little soreness in his knee when he got into a rundown during Thursday's game and he was ultimately scratched from Friday's lineup. However, he was able to take batting practice before the contest and Snitker said the superstar would've played had it been the regular season. This still seems like the club is simply being extra cautious with the reigning National League MVP, but more information on his status will be available after he gets checked out.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Scratched with knee soreness

    Acuna was scratched from the lineup for Friday's spring game against the Orioles as a precaution due to right knee soreness. Acuna tore his ACL in the same knee back in 2021. It appears to be a minor issue this time around, but it's no surprise to see Atlanta exercising extreme caution with the reigning National League MVP. Assuming he has no further problems, Acuna should be back in the lineup within the next couple days.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Two more steals before early exit

    Acuna went 1-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases before being replaced by Kevin Pillar in the third inning of Friday's 10-6 loss to the Nationals. There were no injury concerns with the 25-year-old superstar; he simply got some extra rest with Atlanta having locked up the top seed in the National League playoffs. The steals were the 71st and 72nd of the season for Acuna, and he's now tied with Otis Nixon's 1991 campaign for the third-most in franchise history and the most in the modern era -- only King Kelly's 84 in 1887 and the original Billy Hamilton's 83 in 1896 rank ahead of him.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Joins 40-70 club

    Acuna went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and two steals in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Cubs in 10 innings. With his two stolen bases Wednesday, Acuna became the first player since 2009 to reach 70 steals while becoming the first player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 70 steals in a season. The 25-year-old outfielder has been on a tear as he wraps up an MVP-worthy campaign, going 29-for-78 (.372) with long balls in his last 11 games.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: On bench for nightcap

    Acuna is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader in Washington. Acuna served as the designated hitter in the matinee and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The 25-year-old missed two contests last weekend with calf tightness, so it's not a major surprise Atlanta will start him for only one game of the twin bill. Kevin Pillar will start in right field in Game 2.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Joins 40-40 club

    Acuna went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Washington. Acuna joined an elite club when he launched a 379-foot solo shot off Patrick Corbin for his 40th homer, as only four other players (Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano) have hit 40 homers and swiped 40 bags in the same season. With 68 steals though, Acuna is the sole member of the 40-50 and 40-60 clubs, and 40-70 isn't off the table either. He's putting the finishing touches on an MVP-caliber season and is slashing .337/.415/.597 with 143 runs and 101 RBI over 710 plate appearances.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Two more homers, steal in win

    Acuna went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo homers, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Phillies. After missing two games with calf tightness, Acuna's picked up right where he left off, going 4-for-9 with a double and a homer in his last two contests. The outfielder is now one homer shy of becoming the first player to join the 40-40 club since Alfonso Soriano in 2006. Acuna, the presumptive NL MVP, is batting .338 with a 1.014 OPS, 138 runs scored, 100 RBI and 67 steals through 694 plate appearances this season.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Back after two-game absence

    Acuna (calf) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Phillies. Atlanta was swept by Miami over the weekend while the frontrunner for the National League MVP Award was sidelined for the final two games of the series, but Acuna will be back in action for the start of a big three-game set with another divisional rival. Since he's been managing calf tightness of late and Atlanta has already clinched the National League East title, Acuna could receive an off day at some point this week, but his inclusion in the lineup Monday should be reason enough for fantasy managers to activate him with confidence. Kevin Pillar will head back to the bench after spelling Acuna in right field the past two days.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Sitting again Sunday

    Acuna (calf) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. It'll be the second straight game on the bench for Acuna after he exited Friday's contest with calf tightness. Atlanta has already wrapped up the NL East crown and holds a four-game advantage for the best record in the majors, so it's hardly a surprise it's being cautious with the star outfielder. Kevin Pillar will start in right field while Ozzie Albies takes over atop the order.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Won't start Saturday

    Acuna (calf) won't start Saturday's game against Miami, Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports. Acuna exited Friday's series opener with right calf tightness, and while the team called his removal precautionary, the injury will cost him at least one start. That's not necessarily a sign that the injury is worse than originally feared, however, as Atlanta's 6.5-game lead for the top seed in the National League means it can afford quite a bit of caution down the stretch. Per Paige Leckie of MLB.com, Acuna felt better Saturday morning, but the team doesn't want to take any chances and will not have him available off the bench.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Exits as precaution

    Acuna exited Friday's game against the Marlins in the seventh inning with right calf tightness. Acuna pulled up after grounding into a double play to end the top of the seventh inning. He went out to right field to begin the bottom of the frame, though he exited after speaking with trainers. Positively, he appears to have avoided a serious issue.
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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Gets aboard four times in loss

    Acuna went 2-for-3 with two walks, one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Pirates. Acuna picked up his second steal of September while getting on base multiple times for the third game in a row. Through eight games this month, he's hitting .314 (11-for-35) with five homers and eight RBI. The superstar outfielder is up to a .336/.417/.586 slash line with 35 homers, 91 RBI, 128 runs scored and 64 steals through 141 contests overall.
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