Braves star projected to finish his career as one of thirty best hitters in MLB history

Could the Atlanta Braves have one of the best players in baseball history on their roster right now?

The Atlanta Braves organization has had some all-time greats in baseball suit up for the franchise in its 153-year history - Hank Aaron, the "Big Three" of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine, Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, and Chipper Jones. 

MLB.com thinks they aren't done, and there's an active member of the roster that can join them. 

The 500-Home Run Club is one of the most exclusive in baseball, with only 28 players having reached that lofty goal in their careers. And MLB.com thinks Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. can join that club before his career is over. 

Evaluating current major leaguers and their chances of joining the 500 Home Run Club, analyst Mike Petriello and reporter Manny Randhawa identified Acuña as a very likely candidate to eventually join that hallowed group. 

Here's what Randhawa said about Acuña when raising the possibility: 

On the heels of a historic season in which he inaugurated the 40-homer/70-steal club, Acuña is not only on track to make a run at 500 career home runs, but he also presents the tantalizing possibility of becoming the first player in AL/NL history to hit 500 homers and steal 500 bases in his career (he’s got 180 career steals already). By the end of next season, he could be in the 200-200 club. Who knows how much more power-speed history he’ll make?

And Petriello, who did the statistical analysis behind Randhawa's suggestions (and ruled out several players, include New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso), had an unequivocal endorsement that Acuña was likely to do it (barring catastrophic injury, of course):

Petriello’s prediction: Yes. Acuña has already topped 40 twice, was on pace to also do it in 2021 before he injured his knee and only 20 hitters have ever hit more homers through age-25. (And remember: the pandemic and injury probably robbed him of another 40 or so.) He’ll probably get to 200 through 26, a level that only the greats reach. Our big question was whether the knee injury would hinder him, concerns that didn’t go away after a good-not-great 2022. After 2023, those concerns are absolutely gone. Imagine saying there’s anything he can’t do right now?

What do you think? Is Ronald Acuña Jr a likely candidate to finish with more than 500 home runs, and what other Braves have a chance to join him? Let us know!

Even with Shohei Ohtani joining the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves still have the better lineup

Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Current Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
2024 International Free Agency tracker

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise