Ronald Acuña Jr. is the Most Deadly Player in Baseball
Batting leadoff for the Atlanta Braves, no one instantly strikes fear into the team's opposing starter than Ronald Acuña Jr.
There is no easing into a game for a starting pitcher when facing the Atlanta Braves because if you make a mistake you're instantly in trouble with a healthy Acuña Jr. atop the batting order.
Take Tuesday night, for example: The Marlins starting pitcher thinks he's just going to throw 96 MPH down the middle for an easy strike to begin the game.
But someone didn't tell him Acuña Jr. is one of the most aggressive hitters in baseball, and he jumped on the pitch for an easy double that nearly got hit out of the park with an exit velocity of 109 MPH.
He later stole third, and with the infield in, Austin Riley was able to drive him in with a shot over shortstop -- likely caught if the infield is back.
And just like that, the Braves are up 1-0 in the blink of an eye.
Acuña Jr.'s Numbers Batting Leadoff
The numbers batting leadoff this season are absurd. He's 14-22 in the first inning this season with 2 walks, 8 runs scored, and 7 stolen bases.
In 16 of the 24 games the Braves have played this year, Acuña Jr. has gotten on base to begin the game. And in eight of those 24 games, he's scored a run. That has to be intimidating for the opposing pitcher and team knowing how quickly you can fall behind with Acuña Jr. atop the order.
In his career, he's had 408 at-bats as the Braves' leadoff hitter and he's slashing .282/.347/.544 with 27 home runs.
If you take out his .269/.313/.398 slashline from 2022 when he clearly wasn't 100 percent, those numbers look even better.
It's also worth noting that Austin Riley has the second-most hits in all of baseball in the first inning this year with 12, and also has the most first-inning RBI with 10. A lot of that is because of the instant pressure Acuña Jr. puts on the opposing pitcher.
Brian Snitker will be writing his name in the leadoff spot for the Braves for many years to come.
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