Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Ronald Acuna Jr.'s bemusing start continues with embarrassing error

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 5/20/24

Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. isn't accustomed to struggling much in his career.

He burst into the major leagues as a 20-year-old and hit .293 with 26 home runs and 64 RBI in 111 games. In 2023, he led MLB in hits and runs while establishing the "40-70 Club" with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.

But after dealing with "meniscus irritation" in his surgically repaired right knee in spring training, the Venezuelan right fielder is on pace to have easily the worst season of his career. He's hitting .242 with just three homers and nine total extra-base hits in 41 games.

His rough start was encapsulated in Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres, as he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and one embarrassing error on a routine fly ball in right field.

Ronald Acuña Jr. attempts to catch a baseball. pic.twitter.com/LIA3XWRloE
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) May 20, 2024

"I don't know if it's timing or not, but right now I'm not that good," Acuna Jr. told The Athletic's David O'Brien after the disastrous game.

"But I'm confident that it'll get turned around and there's good things ahead."

There are positive signs that should keep fans in Acuna Jr.'s corner through these struggles. Despite his lack of results, he does have an expected batting average of .266 according to BaseballSavant, 24 points higher than his actual average and one that would be even with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

He's also in the 87th percentile of major leaguers for hard-hit balls, 89th percentile in average exit velocity and walk rate and the 98th percentile in bat speed. So while his traditional stats aren't up to his usual standard, the underlying stats show that he hasn't simply forgotten how to hit.

When Acuna Jr. finally does start producing in the box score, look for the Braves (26-16) to make a charge at the National League East leading Philadelphia Phillies.

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