Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. reveals shocking admission after record 2023 season

Braves sensation Ronald Acuna Jr. makes a statement that will have fans excited as they start the 2024 season with new hopes.

Ronald Acuna Jr. ensured that his injury problems were a thing of the past in everyone’s minds in 2023. After a difficult 2022 season, the Atlanta Braves right fielder went on to have the best season of his career in 2023, becoming a founding member of the 40 home run, 70 stolen base club. Acuna won the National League MVP award unanimously, despite heavy competition from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

It’s difficult to see how Acuna improves on his outstanding 2023 performance. However, the Braves right fielder is only 26 years old, so he could still improve. In fact, Acuna believes that there are no limitations to what he may accomplish on the diamond in 2024, as long as he gives it his all once more.

“I’m trying to do better than last year,” Acuna told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “I’m not sure, but everything is conceivable. When I’m playing, I don’t think about it too much. And after the season is finished, I will see how I did.”

Few athletes can improve on a season in which they hit 41 home runs, stole 73 bases, and had a 1.012 OPS, totaling 8.3 WAR, according to Fangraphs. If one looks at Ronald Acuna Jr.’s track record, he has been a terrific player for the Braves throughout his career, but his 2023 season is the outlier.

Acuna’s MVP season was fuelled in part by a significant decline in his strikeout rate. In his first five professional seasons, his strikeout rate fluctuated from 23.6% to 29.7%; in 2023, he was able to decrease it in half, percentage-wise, and his batting average on balls in play remained consistent, allowing him to hit more base hits than ever before.

Maintaining this level of contact will be critical for the Braves star as he seeks to improve on his MVP season. Given his determination to prevent professional stagnation, betting against him will be a bad decision, even if he is currently dealing with a setback.