Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTIncluded Columnist IVMay 28, 2024
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Ronald Acuña Jr. has actually been lost for the season for the Atlanta Braves, badly affecting their World Series hopes.
And while the Braves might ultimately seek to strengthen the outfield through a trade, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Tuesday that the Braves would “remain internal” with the trio of Michael Harris II, Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall:
MLB Network @MLBNetwork
“While I am informed in the meantime they are going to remain internal … I would anticipate eventually in time, an outfielder will show up to Atlanta.”<< a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">> @jonmorosi< on how the Braves will resolve Ronald Acuña Jr.'s injury and a couple of outfielders he anticipates to be readily available at the trade due date ⬇ < a href="https://t.co/cfFwFiE1NP">> pic.twitter.com/cfFwFiE1NP
Defensively, it will be Duvall taking Acuña’s area in ideal field for the time being. He had actually formerly been platooning with Kelenic in left field.
“Right now, it’s going to be quite constant,” supervisor Brian Snitker informed press reporters Monday. “It’s what you see. That’s who we got.”
The group likewise called J.P. Martínez from Triple-A as a depth piece.
When it comes to who will strike leadoff, that might differ.
“It’s an everyday thing,” Snitker kept in mind. “I like [Ozzie Albies] versus the lefty, and I might stick with him [there]I do not understand. We’ll see how everybody else is going and what it appears like daily.”
Throughout Monday’s 8-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, it was certainly Albies atop the order.
There is no changing Acuña, a four-time All-Star and the safeguarding NL MVP. The Braves are an even worse group without him. They have actually shown capable of weathering storms in the past and still have one of the much better offenses in baseball.
“There are couple of gamers in this league that are on a level that he is,” 3rd baseman Austin Riley informed press reporters. “It’s a delight to enjoy him every night. To see that take place, you feel for him. You feel for him since he’s such a gifted gamer. I understand he’s going to work his butt off to return. It’s absolutely hard to change Ronald.”
When it comes to the existing outfield trio, Harris is having a good season (.261, 5 homers, 17 RBI, 23 runs, 8 taken bases), while Kelenic (.258, 3 homers, 9 RBI, 14 runs) and Duvall (.209, 5 homers, 13 RBI, 12 runs) have actually been plain, albeit while splitting time.
It’s been a difficult year for Atlanta, which likewise lost ace starter Spencer Strider for the year. The Braves (30-21) currently discover themselves 6 video games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (38-17) in the NL East.
If that gulf expands– or the group discovers itself having a hard time to survive in the wild-card chase– it would not be unexpected to see the group make a splashier carry on the trade market.
