The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Acuna heats up a plate
First spring homer part of 3-for-3 performance.
TAMPA, FLA. — Ronald Acuna is hitting his stride, and spectators are seeing why the outfielder is largely considered the best prospect in baseball.
Acuna went 3 for 3 on Friday against the Yankees, including a home run to deep center off Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees won 5-4, but Acuna’s homer was the biggest headline of the day.
“He got me pretty good,” Tanaka said through an interpreter.
“I was excited to face such a tough pitcher like Tanaka out there,” Acuna said through an interpreter. “I’m very proud of this opportunity and I’m glad it can happen. Thankfully it worked out mostly, we weren’t able to win, but I did what I can do. Just do my best and help the team win all you can.”
After his second hit, a third-inning single, Acuna stole his second base of the spring. He singled again in the fifth.
“Whenever I step in the batter’s box, I just try to focus and make sure I stay on task,” he said. “So my goal when I get in there is try to look for a fastball and make good contact and connect. Luckily I saw a pitch and was able to make an adjustment and got some good wood on it.”
Acuna started the spring 1 for 9 but has found his offense. He’s had three straight multihit games.
“I felt comfortable from the first time I went out
there,” he said. “The results weren’t there, but it’s just about process and developing, and just making adjustments as you go along.”
The 20-year-old insists he’s done little differently over the past three days. He’s just thankful to finally see results.
“I haven’t really changed anything, nothing like that,” Acuna said. “It’s just about the process. We just weren’t getting the results and I’m glad we’re starting to now.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker is happy with the progress Acuna and other younger players are making in the early parts of the spring.
“He’s swinging the bat good,” Snitker said. “It’s almost like the more at-bats they’re getting, they’re kind of settling in. They’re playing their game now, more than anything . ... So it’s neat.”
Braves address hat issue: Snitker was unaware of any controversy regarding how Acuna wears his hat before games.
Social media stirred recently over a report the Braves asked Acuna to wear his hat straight-forward. The team requires the “A” be visible as part of uniform code and is the only team in MLB to do so.
Speaking with reporters Friday before the game against the Yankees, Snitker was puzzled when the topic came up.
“I haven’t seen that,” Snitker said. “I honestly don’t know. Nobody’s came to me about that.”
After an explanation, Snitker said any talk about Acuna’s hat is “blown out of proportion.” It was a one-time occurrence; not a recurring effort to regulate Acuna, as some critical of the rule have alluded to or suggested.
“He did it in an interview early in camp,” Snitker said. “And he was told not to do that anymore.”
The team addressed it with Acuna then, according to a person familiar with the situation. Acuna was receptive and understood why the team instituted the rule. There have been no problems since.
Snitker clarified why the Braves have the unique policy, citing respect for the greats of the organization.
“It’s the look,” he said. “You do respect the game and the organization and the team on the front of it (the hat). I tell these guys, we don’t do things like everybody else. There’s a lot of Hall of Famers who spent a lot of time in this organization.
“We wear batting practice jerseys, and people don’t put glasses on over the “A,” things like that, out of respect for the Hall of Famers that put a lot into this organization and all those flags that are hanging.”