Ronald Acuna was the most-anticipated Braves prospect in decades, and in spite of the extreme hype, he managed to not only meet expectations, but surpass them in most cases. David O’Brien of The Athletic details an oral history in celebration of what’s known as the Year of Acuna. The phenom hit .293/.366/.552 en route to a 3.7 fWAR season that won him the NL Rookie of the Year award, and became the youngest player in history to hit a grand slam in the postseason. Because he opened the year in the minors, Braves fans will have the privilege of watching Acuna play in Atlanta for at least six more seasons.
A pair of other small items…
- Although Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor struggled mightily at the end of the 2018 season, the club is hopeful that he’ll be able to revert to the promise he showed in a 3.1 fWAR 2017 campaign. Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post details the storyline as it stands, including a few poignant quotes from GM Mike Rizzo. “If he figures out the contact portion of it a little bit better, you are talking about a guy that could have five tools,” he explained. “He’s had flashes of it in the past and he just needs to be more consistent in his approach at the plate, because the kid’s a really good player.” While Taylor did indeed show a lot of talent in 2017, it’s well-worth noting that the biggest difference between that and his 2018 performance was a 43-point difference in BABIP. Still, Taylor’s power numbers inexplicably plummeted last season as well, leaving room for optimism in regards to a potential rebound.
- Jake Rogers is still the Tigers’ catcher of the future, Anthony Fenech writes in a piece for Baseball America, but he’ll have to do better than the .219/.305/.412 batting line he posted across 408 plate appearances at Double-A Erie this past season. According to GM Al Avila, Rogers is likely to begin the 2019 season at that same level. “Depending on how spring training goes, we’ll make a decision there,” he said at the winter meetings. “But I would say we’re kind of leaning towards (Erie), just for his own good.” The Tigers would “like to see him improve upon the offense” before giving him a promotion to the minors’ highest level. Vice President of Player Personnel Dave Littlefield offered something in the way of optimism regarding Rogers’ capabilities, expressing “no doubt” that he’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments in his swing, adding that he improved late in the year with some minor tweaks. Rogers was taken in third round of the 2016 draft, and currently ranks 12th among Detroit’s prospects.
Al Avila was the best scout in baseball now he is GM. I trust his assessment. Rogers will be shipped if he doesn’t develop quick. Sell hype and collect bigger.
Rodgers will be an above average catcher in the majors for a long time
I thought this, or, hoped this for McCann but, no. How does Ausmus, a catcher, not develop very talented youth like McCann? Hope Gardenhire helps Rogers turn into super pro like he helps Maurer in the Twin day.
Helped Mauer? People put way to much faith in these coaches.
Gardenhire “helped” Mauer become a catcher like dusty baker “helped” Bryce Harper become an ofr
He’ll be an above average defensive catcher. As for offense., ……
MYR, Xabial and myself took an L as we were not first on this one
In othernews…..NO ONE CARES
You commented… so you care enough to get some upvotes!
Ha ha ha, hold hands! It’s the Christmas, we can have a baseball present together? Share goodness of a MLBTR, and a sing, and eat a stocking cookie?
Haha…It’s only AA numbers but Jake Rogers has better BA and OBP than Dirty Sanchez…
#YWPswallowsGary2019
In AA and soon to be 24 and you have the nerve to make that comparison?
Lol
@YWP
Is it your intention to be annoying of does it just come naturally?
Uhh he definitely wasn’t the most anticipated…Harper and Strasburg were more hyped up cause of how bad the Nats were
My bad thought he said prospect like from all teams. Only now saw that it was only in reference to Braves
Even then, I’d argue that Heyward might’ve even been more hyped up back in his rookie season.
Braves need to look into locking up Acuna before he reaches arbitration, think it would be a benefit to both, if Acuna is willing to sacrifice future money for guranteed money and if he stays healthy and productive it would be a huge win for the Braves
Maybe in like 4 years lock him up
10/ 100
He’d be a fool to take that.
Agree I was thinking let him play this season out and if he stays healthy and has a good year offer him 6/80… big commitment but imagine his pay if he sustains his production up through arbitration
Time value of money? Fool does not take promise money now. Fool wait for unsure money, not invest now, and not know one in the basket is better than two in the bush.
Acuna smart? Then take big now, make a Lebron and invest in body health for sports income and in business to make wealth for life time income.
This is a great report but, I think that Kyle Downing and you are missing one of the most mature young hitter that I seem in a long time and that is Juan Soto of Washington’s national I believe that acuna will continue to excel but, strongly see Juan as the greatest of both nevertheless, in baseball is never great to expect too much or under estimate somebody.other than that great report.
No one is missing Soto. The article was by a Braves writer talking about a Braves player.
Soto might end up being the better hitter going forward, but there’s no question Acuna is the better overall athlete and player.
I see no way Acuna signs. Hell be a free agent at 26.
He plays a position where guys rarely get hurt looking term.
Best I could see is a long term deal buying out 2 years of his free agency, but it certainly won’t be for 10 mil a year.
After next year something like a 7 year 180 million could be in order.
It gives the braves acuna 2 extra seasons.
Acuna gets all the security and still a free agent at age 28.
if Manny Machado at the same age gets 300+ million dollars, does anybody honestly believe there’s a snowball’s chance Acuna signs away any of his free agent years?
I think any player would sacrifice a year or two for financial security. For every Machado there are 10 Mark Appels, Delmon Youngs, Matt Bushes out there.
You know that through arbitration he’s only gonna get about 50 million, maybe 60, so essentially you’re suggesting we pay him 65 million per year for his 2 free agent years.
I was thinking about 8/100, year by year: 1, 2, 5, 9, 14, 19, 24, 26. He would still reach free agency at age 28
Play Michael A everyday and he’ll produce
Taylor has had abundant opportunities as an everyday player. 2017 was a career year. 2018 revealed Michael A. as a strikeout machine. That is who he is.
I tend to agree that Taylor will do much better if he plays everyday. That’s why he should be traded because with an outfield of Eaton, Robles and Soto, he will be at best a fourth outfielder.
Tigers will be a young and fun team to watch if he Al hit on a few guys via the trade with the Cubs and the Astros. The guys he drafted are still developing and year or two behind the guys he traded for but by 2021 it should be fun again. The biggest issue not solved is whether the Tigers are going to be up for sale after the 2019 season. Both Avila and Gardenhire contracts are up in 2020 so if they don’t get extensions after the 2019 season, the Tigers will most likely be up for sale. Stay tuned……..
Al says he wants a fast, quick, athletic team of defenders and baserunners to take advantage of Comerica’s dimensions. It always amazed me that Dombrowski never did that – although the owner wanted big boppers to impress the fans (I remember when HR hitter Juan Gonzalez was a free agent; although the Tigers offered the most money he refused to play his home games in that park).
This is what the Royals do in their park. Of all the teams I’ve watched on MLB.TV over the last 4-6 years (don’t remember when they started), the Royals are easily the most fun team to watch….even when they’re not winning a lot. At times the Cardinals. Sitting in front of a screen to watch a pitcher try to strike out a batter while the batter swings with all his might trying to hit a HR, is like attending a 9-10 year-old Little League game.
Thus far this winter I’ve watched some replays of late season Tiger games. Saw maybe 3 position players that were called up that fit Al’s requirements. Not saying they’ll be a serious contender then, but by 2021 I suspect the Tigers will be rolling out a solid core of guys that can actually play baseball.
You do know the Royals are terrible right now, Right? So are you really sure that’s the team anyone should be emulating?
@ petrie000;
You have a serious, chronic reading comprehension problem. Much of it is due to not understanding the sport of baseball.
Do us and the board a favor, and in the future please do not respond to my posts.
Thank you.
Ah yes SCRC… debilitating illness. My prayers with you and your family sir
if you don’t like your posts subject to criticism, don’t post. kind of a hard rule of the internet.
You’re the one who brought up a 58-win baseball team as an example of ‘fun’ baseball whilst openly wondering why a team that doesn’t want to be awful isn’t following their example, so my reading comprehension is not the problem here. The problem is you not understanding why Dombrowksi never went down a road that can’t reliably produce even .500 baseball teams.
really, anybody who claims they watch baseball should understand that baserunning and defense can’t win you anything on their own. Somehow you have to get a lead first for the defense to matter, and you can’t steal 1st base… So yeah, it’s also not MY understanding of baseball that’s faulty here if that needs to be explained to you
You want to make the board better? get with the century before posting again.
he did mention that the royals were not a good team. that aside he’s atating his own opinion as to watching their games live as quote”fun”.
he’s free to state his opinions, not to have them taken seriously when they’re that bad.
He’s talking about the fundamental baseball they play. Pitching was terrible but watching them play the old dirt ball from the senior league is what he’s talking about
And I, like most people my age would rather see guys go hit dingers.
Less k’s would be nice in a perfect world, but trading strikeouts for weak ground outs is not exactly an upgrade, so why people pine for ‘the good old days’ of sac bunting is a little beyond me
Heavens……
Where to begin?
Merry Christmas
Royals are currently the worst team in the MLB and have a terrible farm system. Wait till 2050 maybe?
@petrie
Why is the only thing you can trade a strikeout for, is a weak ground ball? If you trade the swing for the fences to a more controlled swing (with 2 strikes), a single up the middle will beat a k.
because if that was even feasible, most people would already be doing it by now, don’t you think?
hitting the ball through the infield is a lot more difficult than simply ‘controlling your swing’. You can TRY it, but if you’re off on your hit angle be even a few degrees either way)… well, you’re out and probably so is any team mate you had already on base.
you strike out? well, that’s only you who’s out. If you’re successful with that big rip, you also actually have a chance of getting to 2nd base or beyond.
in terms of risk/reward, is it really that surprising everybody who’s stopped to think about it has decided option B is the smart way to go?
Not all players are actually that great, so the idea that all of them can simply decide to make better contact is painfully naive. Most would fail at that at the same rates they do with the big swings.
I think people forget how highly Teheran and Tommy Hanson were though of.
I certainly haven’t forgot about Teherán. I’ve always liked him as a pitcher
And heyward don’t forget heyward.
I went out of my way to see both of their debuts (traveling to PHI for Teheran’s) – sure, Acuña’s was celebrated, but there was a lot of hope behind Teheran’s.
Not that I wish I’ll on folks, but I was so happy when Hanson went bust. I thought he was the next Maddox for the Braves. Helped open the window for my Mets’ 2015 WS run.
Taylor will not be an everyday player in DC barring injury to Eaton etc. he’s a decent bat off the bench and an excellent defensive replacement in the OF. but his real potential will only be seen as a starter on a team that really needs a CF. hold him for depth or trade him to the A’s or Orioles or someone
Bet all the Braves fans that were whining about Acuna not being on the opening day roster are now thrilled to have him that extra year.
This is why good front offices never listen to the fans
Braves fans aren’t stupid; we understand service time. It was ESPN that was whining about it. Get ready for more in 4 months when Eloy and Guerrero are in the minors for 3 weeks.
As a member of many message boards and Facebook groups, I wouldn’t make the blanket statement that Braves fans aren’t stupid. There’s a lot of ignorance in this fan base, and there certainly were those pissing and moaning about Acuna
Who is Acuna’s agent ? Hope it’s not Boras
I think it’s The Legacy Agency (Peter Greenberg)
He has 4 tools but if he develops another tool he’ll have 5. Groundbreaking stuff
I’m a Nats fan, and I’d have to say Rizzo is being a bit generous. Yes, Taylor can run, catch and throw. Hitting for power? Sometimes. Hitting for average? Almost never. He is also 27 with more than four full seasons under his belt. Highly unlikely he suddenly stops striking out and starts hitting at this stage.
Wow, Jerry DiPoto is racist…
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25589311/suit-accuses-seat…
This is why people dont read ESPN. (Identity politics)
Mariners’ side of the story now: (from your link):
“The Mariners, in responding to Martin’s social-media posts, had termed her accusations “outrageous” and “false” and said she hadn’t made any of the allegations “until after she was relieved of her duties” in October.”
Disclaimer: I hate ESPN. More respect if cite Sea Times
Espn should stick to sports!
It’s an Associated Press column, meaning ESPN didn’t even write it. And it’s a fact-based story covering the allegations and the denials, not an opinion piece. What are they supposed to just ignore the story? And it involves executives of a sports franchise, so to claim this doesn’t directly concern sports is laughable. Sounds like you are the only one with the bias here and you want your outlets to cater to it.
MLBTradereumors covered the story before a lawsuit was even filed. Funny, I didn’t see you telling Jeff Todd they should stick to sports when you replied to him in the comments. But you did admit your deleted comments were too biased.
mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/mariners-accusations-de…
Why are you just coming to this information? There was literally a post covering it a few days ago, and once again, these are just her claims right now as nothing has been proven.
Jake Rogers numbers don’t look so bad. The duties of catching is priority 1, Most of the Catchers in MLB hit somewhere under or around .219.
Great story. Now if only I can find out if the sky is blue tomorrow Christmas will be completed
That is true about most catchers but those catchers are a dime a dozen. We could pick one up on a league minimum salary and accomplish the same thing as what Jake is going now and AA. The hope is that Jake was able to be more than the average catcher otherwise should’ve just kept McCan.
Trout and Simmons for Acuna, Albies, Swanson, Newcomb, Teheran, and Vizcaino.
you for a bottle of water from braves.
That’s a laughable trade Halo.
Instead of Acuña and Albies, we send Enciarte, Soroka, Touki and Gohara.