Braves Manager Walt Weiss Locks Ronald Acuña Jr. Into Leadoff Role for 2026…

After a frustrating and disappointing season, the Atlanta Braves are entering 2026 with renewed optimism — and a clear vision at the top of their lineup…

New manager Walt Weiss has already made one crucial decision: Ronald Acuña Jr. will return as the team’s leadoff hitter…

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Weiss believes Acuña is best suited to ignite the offense from the top spot — the same role he occupied when healthy last season…

Acuña’s Health: The Defining Variable

There is little debate about Acuña’s talent. When fully healthy, he remains one of the most dynamic players in Major League Baseball. The only lingering question is durability.

Now 28 years old, Acuña has already endured:

Two ACL tears
An Achilles injury last season
Multiple lower-body setbacks that have limited his explosiveness

For a player whose game once revolved around elite speed and range, those injuries are concerning. However, when he was on the field in 2025, he still performed at an elite level.

2025 Offensive Production:

.290 batting average
.417 on-base percentage
.518 slugging percentage
21 home runs
42 RBI
74 runs scored

He stole just nine bases — a noticeable drop from earlier in his career — but that decline is understandable given the knee issues.

The Braves may no longer expect 40-steal seasons, but they don’t need that version of Acuña to thrive.

If he replicates — or improves upon — those slash numbers in 2026, Atlanta’s offense will be dangerous.

Defensive Questions Remain

Acuña continues to patrol right field, but his defensive metrics tell a more complicated story.

Arm strength: 98th percentile
Outs Above Average (2025): -11
Defensive percentile: 2nd percentile in MLB

His arm remains elite. His range does not.

Given the physical toll of his injuries, it would not be surprising to see Weiss rotate him into the designated hitter role periodically to preserve his health over a 162-game schedule.

Keeping Acuña in the lineup is far more important than maximizing his defensive value.

Who Hits Behind Acuña?

While the leadoff spot is settled, the No. 2 position remains undecided.

Two names appear to be under consideration:

Drake Baldwin
Matt Olson

Drake Baldwin: The Rising Star

Baldwin captured the 2025 Rookie of the Year award after an impressive campaign:

.274/.341/.469 slash line
19 home runs
80 RBI
3.3 bWAR

Interestingly, Baldwin was even better against left-handed pitching, slashing .299/.358/.460. That versatility makes him a strong candidate to bat second, regardless of matchup.

Matt Olson: The Durable Slugger

Olson remains one of the most reliable everyday players in baseball, having played 162 games in four consecutive seasons.

In 2025, he posted:

.272/.366/.484 slash line
29 home runs
95 RBI
41 doubles

Against left-handers, Olson hit .281 with a .792 OPS. While his OPS dipped slightly versus same-side pitching, his production remained strong.

His durability and power make him a natural fit near the top of the order.

A Strategic Decision for 2026

Weiss has indicated he is comfortable stacking Baldwin and Olson back-to-back, even against left-handed starters. That flexibility gives Atlanta options.

A potential top three could look like:

Acuña
Baldwin
Olson

Or:

Acuña
Olson
Baldwin

Either configuration gives the Braves:

On-base ability at the top
Power protection behind Acuña
Left-handed balance
Lineup depth

The Bigger Picture

The Braves’ path back to the postseason will not be easy. The National League remains competitive, and Atlanta must prove that last season’s struggles were an anomaly rather than a trend….

But starting the year with a healthy Acuña in the leadoff spot provides clarity and identity….

If he stays on the field, this offense immediately looks formidable.

If Baldwin builds on his Rookie of the Year momentum and Olson continues his steady production, Atlanta’s lineup could once again rank among the league’s best.

For 2026, it starts with Acuña at the top — exactly where Walt Weiss wants him.