MLB Sends Ronald Acuna Message After Braves Win
MLB Sends Ronald Acuna Message After Braves Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It's been a long road back for Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Just over a year ago, Acuna went down with a torn ACL. It took nearly a full year before he returned to action, but when he did, he wasted no time making an impact.
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In his first at-bat of the season on May 23, Acuna launched a home run off Nick Pivetta. He finished that game 2-for-4 with a homer, an RBI and an outfield assist, reminding everyone what he's capable of.
Acuna has continued his torrid pace since. MLB even highlighted his resurgence, posting: 'Ronald Acuna Jr. hasn't missed a beat since coming back in 2025. The @Braves OF is back to his superstar ways.'
Through 19 games, Acuna is slashing .375/.458/1.125 with three doubles, six home runs, 11 RBIs and 15 runs scored. He's struck out 22 times but has drawn 11 walks. Heading into Saturday's game, he's on a 10-for-16 tear over his last four games.
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At 27 years old, the Venezuelan native now has 171 career home runs and a lifetime batting average of .291. He's aiming to help the Braves reach the postseason again, something Atlanta has accomplished in each of his first seven seasons.
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has 171 career home runs in seven-plus major league seasons.Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Despite his strong return, the Braves are struggling. Atlanta sits in third place in the National League East with a 30-38 record, trailing the first-place New York Mets by 14 games.
After wrapping up their weekend series with the Colorado Rockies, the Braves will get a day off Monday before hosting a pivotal series against the Mets starting Tuesday.
Related: Mets Makes Big Pete Alonso Announcement on Sunday
Related: Shohei Ohtani Reacts to Dodgers' Max Muncy Announcement
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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MLB's best catcher Cal Raleigh smashes records. His biggest fan? The GOAT backstop. Show Caption Hide Caption Seattle Mariners' newest player shares promotion with family Cole Young announces his move to the big leagues playing for Seattle Mariners during an emotional phone call with his family. PHOENIX — They met for the first time last November, and now 3,229 miles away, Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench can't keep his eyes off him. He watches him on TV. He scours the boxscores looking for his name. He checks out the latest stats. Bench, considered the greatest all-around catcher in baseball history with his 14 All-Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves, two MVPs and two World Series championships, is mesmerized days by a young man in Seattle who could become the next, well, Johnny Bench. He is a modern-day combination of Hall of Famer catcher Mike Piazza (427 homers) and future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina (nine Gold Gloves, four Platinum Gloves). The name is Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners' switch-hitting catcher. He's not only the greatest power-hitting catcher in the game today, tied for the major-league lead with 26 homers entering June 15, but also is the game's greatest defensive catcher. Raleigh, who has produced the most home runs by a catcher in their first four seasons in baseball history, also won the Gold Glove and the Platinum Gold award last year as the greatest defensive player in the American League, regardless of position. Raleigh, 28, has taken the torch from 35-year-old Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez (5-time Gold Glove winner, five-time Silver Slugger) as the game's finest all-around catcher. He already is on his way to carving a spot in the record books. He became the first catcher to hit 20 homers before June 1, and is just two homers behind Bench for producing the most homers hit by a catcher before the All-Star break (28 in 1970). He's on pace to smash Perez's record of 48 homers for a catcher. He'll soon join Piazza, Bench and Roy Campanella as the only catchers to hit 30 or more homers in three consecutive years. 'Believe me, I'm paying close attention," Bench tells USA TODAY Sports from his Jupiter, Florida home. 'I love watching him hit, seeing him go the other way while trying to get guys in from second and third. I love watching him throw, and unlike some guys you see, he's not afraid to throw. I love watching him call a game. I love watching him drive in runs. 'I love watching everything he does, it's just so impressive." Bench started closely following Raleigh when they met at the Rawlings Gold Glove dinner in New York last November. They sat at the same table. And they talked. And talked. Raleigh listened. And Bench talked some more. 'He's such a nice young man," Bench says, 'and for him to win his first Gold Glove will just give him more confidence. I call it inner-conceit. You're better than the situation. You're better than the opposing pitcher you're facing. You're better than the batter you're trying to get out. 'Guys like him have come along maybe 14, 15 times in the history of the game." Raleigh, who has been in the big leagues for 3 ½ years, breaks into a smile hearing Bench's praise. You kidding? Johnny Bench is raving about him? He still can't believe he got to sit next to Bench during the luncheon, stunned the legend even knew who he was, and blown away by the advice he provided. 'That was so cool, he's definitely one of a kind," Raleigh says. 'He was awesome. Old school. Knows baseball. Loves to talk about it. 'There were a lot of stories. He was really adamant about as you get older, taking care of yourself as a catcher. So he was giving me stuff on that. But then the big thing was runners in scoring position, what he was trying to do as a hitter, telling me he was taught to get runs in, and be an RBI guy. Those are the two things that stuck with me, slowing it down, not trying to do too much, and just getting those runs in. He was big on those two things." Now, Raleigh has Bench beaming with pride. Raleigh has played in all but one Mariners game this season. He would be perhaps be the MVP favorite if not for Yankees Aaron Judge's ridiculous year. 'I don't know about that," Raleigh says. 'I'm a huge fan of [Kansas City Royals shortstop] Bobby Witt. I think he's one of the best players in baseball. What he can do, how he can impact the game, the guy is unbelievable." Then again, what Raleigh is doing deserves the same hype. He has 26 homers and 53 RBIs, to go along with 44 runs, 11 doubles, seven stolen bases, a .376 on-base percentage and .998 OPS. He has hit 13 of his homers and 40 RBI with runners on base. 'That's what [former Mariners third baseman] Kyle Seager always told me, too," Raleigh says. 'He was really a big RBI guy. That's an important thing that people don't realize. Can you drive in runs? That's a huge part of the game. Walks are great, but driving in runs win games." Says Mariners All-Star center fielder Julio Rodriguez: 'When he's getting his pitches, he's not missing them. Whenever someone throws a fastball, and he's looking for it, it's gone. It's pretty amazing what he's doing." And, then, there's the Gold Glove defense, throwing out the most runners trying to steal in back-to-back years for the first time since Hall of Famer Gary Carter in 1982-83, and a mastermind behind the plate. 'It's cool to see the progression because coming out of college," Mariners backup catcher Mitch Garver Says, 'he was really more at a bat-first catcher, and really revamped his whole catching style over the last few years. We saw the rewards last year with the way he was able to receive the ball better. I think it improved his blocking and his throwing as well. 'Here he is, close to 30 homers already, still catching five or six times a week, and is able to do what he does with the staff and produce offensively is just amazing to see. We're playing in a ballpark that's not easy to hit in, and he's making it look easy. He's hitting balls above his head, hitting balls that are almost about to bounce, and staying locked in behind the plate." Says Mariners veteran starter Luis Castillo: 'He's so very good for us, just having that confidence that we have in him. He does so much for us helping the team win defensively, offensively, everything. But the big thing for the pitchers is the confidence for us to throw the pitch that we want, but also the confidence in him to throw the pitcher that he wants, too." Raleigh is hardly satisfied with just becoming the greatest hitting catcher in the game. He also wants to be the best behind the plate. 'What kid didn't love Yadi (Molina) coming up?" Raleigh says. 'You wanted to be him. You wanted to be that guy. He was so good in every aspect of the game. Calling a game, blocking, receiving, throwing guys out, back-picking, everything. He was amazing. When he was back there, it was a whole different game. It was special. It was different." Raleigh is getting those same rave reviews as Molina, not only what he does on the field night after night, behind the plate and at the plate, but also in the clubhouse. 'He's a very smart player, very understanding, very professional," Mariners first baseman Rowdy Tellez says, 'but I don't think people give him the credit for being a great leader and what he does for everyone in this clubhouse. He's a true superstar. He's putting up numbers nobody else is doing. If he did this anywhere else in the country, people would be blown away. 'Oh yeah, and he's got good hair, too." Raleigh couldn't care less about appearing in commercials. He doesn't need fans hanging out for hours outside the team hotel on the road for pictures and autographs. He doesn't even need MLB officials to beg him to be in their Home Run Derby, with Raleigh already volunteering. He's still waiting on the call. 'I think the last time I did a Home Run Derby was in the High-A Cal League,'' Raleigh said. 'I don't think I made it out of the first round. But if they invite me, why wouldn't you want to do something like that? It'd be pretty cool to do something like that one day." Who knows, maybe the Derby will let everyone know that MLB's best catcher plays in Seattle. He received a six-year, $105 million extension this spring, hopefully long enough to be the one to help lead the Mariners to where they've never gone before: the World Series. 'This city is amazing," Raleigh said. 'The people are amazing. The Mariners fans are amazing. It's the only place I've ever known, and it's hopefully the only place I've ever known. I just look really forward to what's to come, and hopefully get these guys in the World Series because these last two seasons have been extremely disappointing.'' The Mariners, 34-34, have been to the postseason just once since 2001, and those who are still in the organization – like Mariners manager Dan Wilson – can tell you just how electric the city became when the Mariners reached the postseason in 1995. They were in the playoffs four times in seven years with future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Randy Johnson. 'For Cal, it comes from in here with him," Wilson says, tapping his chest. 'He's got a lot of heart, a lot of desire, and a lot of determination. He wants to win in the worst way. He wants to be out there every day and compete. His at-bats are just so good, the way he receives, the way he blocks, the way he throws, the way he handles our pitching staff. He just does it all, but what really shines through is his desire to win." Says Mariners hitting coach Kevin Seitzer: 'He's very intense, very focused, quiet, soft-spoken, but he's not afraid to share his mind. The stuff that comes out of his mouth is really rock solid. What can you say, he's a freakin' pro." It's why the Mariners didn't hesitate investing $105 million in him before he was eligible for arbitration. Who knows, he could wind up on the Mariners' Mount Rushmore one day, already hitting more home runs than any Mariner but Griffey this quickly in his career. 'Nothing really changes, but it's nice to know that you're going to e somewhere for a long period of time," Raleigh says, 'especially where you want to be. It probably did ease my mind a little bit in these sense that I know can just go out and lay, enjoy it, and win as many games as we can, and get us to October. 'That's what you play for. That's what you constantly remind yourself. We're playing for something bigger come October, something that you'll never forget. Something the city will never forget." Something like the night of Sept. 30, 2022, when it was his ninth-inning, walk-off homer that finally ended the Mariners' 21-year playoff drought. 'That's what I want more than anything," he says. Raleigh pauses, takes a deep breath, and says: 'Only this time, in October." Around the basepaths – The Arizona Diamondbacks, who could be the epicenter of the trade deadline, are getting swarmed with calls from rival GMs with hopes they can land the piece to get them into October. The D-backs have starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, power-hitting third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor, along with relievers Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks, all pending free agents who could be available. The Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants are keeping a close eye on those power hitters, while virtually every contender is looking at their pitching. One little problem. The D-backs (35-34) still are contenders. 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Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
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