Latest news with #DaleMurphy
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matt Olson consecutive games streak ties Dale Murphy
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson has tied former Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy on the consecutive games played list at 740. That total is the 13th longest in MLB history. Olson's streak started when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics, so Murphy's streak is still the longest in Braves history. For Olson, who is MLB's active leader, he is only five game away from moving into 12th place which is held by Pete Rose. If his streak continues for another season, he will be in the top 10 all-time. The MLB record is held by Baltimore Orioles shortstop/third baseman Cal Ripken, Jr with 2,632.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ronald Acuña Jr. makes All-Star team in his comeback season
ATLANTA — When Ronald Acuña Jr. missed the first eight weeks of the season while completing his rehab from knee surgery, the Braves superstar wasn't sure it'd be possible to be picked to play in the All-Star Game, which is in Atlanta on July 15. But he might've underestimated how wildly popular he is with fans. Advertisement Acuña made his fifth All-Star team, each time elected as a starter by fans. That matches a franchise record shared by Braves icons Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy. 'It's a dream come true just to be playing my fifth All-Star Game, but more importantly, just to be playing this All-Star Game in front of the best fans in baseball,' Acuña said through an interpreter, after getting the news that he was among three NL outfielders elected to start. He had already committed to be in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Truist Park on July 14, but now Acuña will be especially busy during the All-Star break. And he couldn't be happier about that, after coming back from his second major knee surgery and not knowing what to expect this season. 'Incredible,' Acuña said. 'Really just have to give all the credit to the fans, right? Just because I missed a ton of playing time. And without them, I'm not in this game. They're the ones who made this dream come true for me.' It's the third All-Star Game to be played in Atlanta and the first since 2000. 'Outside of Venezuela, Atlanta is my second home and I love being here,' Acuña said. 'I want to continue to be a member of this organization. I want to be in this organization for the rest of my career. I'm comfortable here. I like it here. I feel like I know everyone. And so for me it would just be a dream to be able to stay here.' 'This (All-Star Game) is just going to have more special moments because it will be in front of the home fans. I think it's one of those special moments in my career.' He added, 'I intend to make it a spectacle and put on a great show for the fans who, again, were the ones who were able to make this dream come true for me.' In his eighth season, Acuña already has matched Aaron and Murphy for fan-elected starting assignments. And he did it in only five or six realistic chances, since he didn't debut as a rookie in 2018 until late April, and there was no All-Star Game in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Advertisement 'It's a great honor,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said, 'and I'm sure he's very proud of the fact that he's going to be able to represent Atlanta and start in the All-Star Game, which is awesome.' Acuña would've started in the 2021 game — he was the NL's leading vote-getter — but tore the ACL in his right knee just a few days before the All-Star break. He returned from that surgery in late-April 2022, just over nine months after surgery, but struggled with residual soreness and inflammation for much of that season. He was the leading overall vote-getter in 2023 during his stunning MVP season in which he hit .337 with 41 homers, 73 stolen bases and a 1.012 OPS. Acuña was eliminated from All-Star consideration last year after tearing the ACL in his left knee on May 26. Along with his surgeon and Braves trainers, Acuña agreed that a more conservative approach to rehab would be prudent this time. They laid out a rehab plan over a full year before his return. The more methodical approach has paid off. Acuña has played at his customary elite level since the day he was activated, May 23, when he hit a tape-measure leadoff homer on the first pitch he saw leading off the first inning. He hasn't missed a game and has been one of the few bright spots for the struggling Braves, who didn't have any other position players in the final round of All-Star fan voting, but could see first baseman Matt Olson added as a reserve. Pitchers Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach were both All-Star candidates — Sale was a lock to make it — before each landed on the injured list, Sale for a fractured rib cage and Schwellenbach for a fractured elbow. 'I'm happy that we have a representative in the starting lineup in our hometown,' Snitker said of Acuña. 'Look at his numbers and what he's done. He's an exciting national player, so I think everybody wanted to see him play, as I would. I think he'll give him a great show in the Home Run Derby. I've seen him in that a couple of times.' Acuña sizzled with a .396 average, .500 on-base percentage, nine home runs and 1.213 OPS in his first 28 games through June 23, before his first mild slump in the past week, going 3-for-22 in seven games before Wednesday. (Photo of Ronald Acuña Jr.: Sam Navarro / Getty Images)
