The Atlanta Braves‘ cornerstone, Ronald Acuña Jr., might not crack Bleacher Report’s top 10 franchise cornerstones, but here’s a better question: What would the Braves be without him?
Atlanta just won its first series since May 18th.
They’re nine games under .500 and spiraling through a season that no longer feels like a hangover from 2023—it feels like something closer to an identity crisis. But while the bullpen unravels and the lineup misfires, Acuña has done what few other players can: make a last-place team must-watch television.
Forget rankings. Acuña isn’t just a top-10 player; he’s the reason Braves fans haven’t completely tuned out.
The Numbers Aren’t Just Back—They’re Loud
If Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wants to fixate on Acuña’s lack of stolen bases post-ACL recovery, fine.
But let’s not pretend this is a player trying to scrape together his former self.
This is a player who’s exploded back into relevance with a 1.083 OPS, six homers in 18 games, and a 1.3 fWAR that projects to a 10-win season.
That’s rarified air—numbers that sound like something out of Shohei Ohtani‘s MVP reel.
And he’s doing it after two ACL surgeries in both knees.
This isn’t a return to form—it’s a reinvention. Acuña isn’t just healthy; he’s smarter, more selective, and, in some ways, more dangerous. The stolen bases may be on pause, but the power isn’t.
Why Is He Getting Penalized for Being the Braves’ Lifeline?
Let’s be honest: If the Braves were winning, Acuña’s stock would be skyrocketing. But they’re not.
Atlanta is a mess, and somehow, Acuña is being lumped into that dysfunction, as if his bat has anything to do with their bullpen’s nightly implosions.
Since returning, he’s outperforming guys ranked well above him on Miller’s list: Bobby Witt Jr., Juan Soto, and even Ohtani over this stretch. But because the Braves are buried in the standings, Acuña is treated like a great player on a bad team rather than a great player doing everything possible to save a bad team.
That distinction matters. A true franchise cornerstone isn’t just great when the lights are bright. He’s essential when everything else is falling apart.
We’ve Seen This Before—And We Keep Forgetting
Go back to 2022. Acuña returned from his first ACL tear and struggled. He admitted later that he wasn’t feeling physically well. Fans and media alike wondered if he’d ever get back to MVP form.
Then 2023 happened—one of the greatest offensive seasons in modern MLB history. The first 40-70 season. A .337 batting average. An OPS north of 1.000. The MVP vote wasn’t just unanimous—it was inevitable.
A year later, after an eerily similar injury, Acuña is back again, and somehow we’re asking the same questions?
At some point, the narrative has to catch up to reality. Acuña doesn’t need to lead the league in steals or carry the Braves to October to prove his worth. He’s already proven it. Twice.
Stop Ranking. Start Watching.
Ronald Acuña Jr. might not be a top-10 franchise cornerstone on paper. But the paper doesn’t sell tickets. The paper doesn’t turn a dead offense into a highlight reel.
Acuña does.
He’s a nightly reminder that baseball is still magic, even when your team’s record says otherwise. If that’s not the definition of a cornerstone, then we’re using the wrong blueprint.
