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New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
After homering (again), Ronald Acuña Jr. feels good about his knee and Braves' chances
ATLANTA — It's like the Atlanta Braves were trudging across a deserted wasteland, and Ronald Acuña Jr. arrived with a cool drink of water for the parched throats of the team and its fans. No, wait. He is that cool drink of water. Acuña homered Saturday for the second time in as many games since a year-long rehab from knee surgery, a two-run shot in the sixth inning of a 7-1 win against the San Diego Padres at sold-out Truist Park. Once again, Acuña got thunderous ovations when introduced and again as he rounded the bases on his tape-measure homer. Advertisement 'It's awesome. He does a lot for our club and our lineup as a whole,' said manager Brian Snitker, whose Braves also got three hits from rookie sensation Drake Baldwin and a homer from surging Matt Olson to snap a seven-game skid against the Padres dating back to October's wild-card series. After hitting a 467-foot homer on the first pitch of the opening inning in Friday's 2-1 loss, becoming the first player in MLB history to homer in his first game back after missing 150 or more games, Acuña homered again Saturday, sending another wave of euphoria through a packed ballpark and the Braves' dugout. Another day, another @ronaldacunajr24 highlight ✌️#BravesCountry — Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 24, 2025 'Sometimes you're just born with it, and he definitely was,' Olson said. 'Yesterday, when he hit that first-pitch home run, it kind of gave me the chills,' said Braves pitcher Grant Holmes, who limited the Padres to one run and six hits in seven innings Saturday. 'I mean that home run (Friday), I feel it kind of jolted us a little bit. We didn't come out with a win, but I feel that kind of got us going a good bit. 'And he's just that type of guy that's going to continue providing those situations.' Snitker said of Acuña's three hits, two homers and strong defense in his first two games back, 'I'm glad that he's getting off the ground good, because that's tough when you haven't played in a year. I don't care how many at-bats you got in the minor leagues or how many (training) complex at-bats you got. This is a different animal up here with the people, the energy, the quality of play. So it's good that the kid could come back after that and hit the ground running.' Acuña struck out three times Saturday, but he's looked so good hitting and running — on the bases and in the outfield — that Snitker decided he would play Acuña in Sunday's series finale rather than give him a day off following his first consecutive games played since the ACL injury on May 26, 2024. Advertisement Acuña said through a translator, 'I feel good. It's been over a year since I've played, I don't know, three or four games in a row. But I'm feeling good and I think that's the most important thing.' The Braves snapped a three-game skid and got back within a game of .500. Even though they were eight games behind the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies and five behind the New York Mets before those teams' Saturday night games, the Braves felt a lot better about their position now with Acuña back. And he likes where they are, too. 'Yeah, I've always had a lot of confidence in this team,' Acuña said, 'and I feel like that's the last thing I'm gonna lose is confidence in the guys in this clubhouse. So, yeah, I feel really good about where we're at.' Snitker spoke earlier Saturday about getting the Braves' offense going, not just to finally beat the Padres but also to get back above .500 and to stop playing low-scoring, one-run games. Olson and Marcell Ozuna had been plenty productive in the Nos. 3-4 spots in the batting order during the past week, but few others had done much at all, Snitker noted. 'We just need a few more of them to get there,' Snitker said. 'These games are so tight that there's no room for any error at all. And if we could get a few more of those guys clicking, then it'd sure make it easier on everything.' Well, they've got another one clicking now. And it's an extremely talented one. Acuña is back. Man, is he back. The Braves are still just 2-12 in games against the Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers this season, including sweeps by both teams during Atlanta's 0-7 season-opening trip to Southern California. But it's worth noting they didn't have Acuña for any of the first 11 games against them, nor for the wild-card series sweep by the Padres in October. Advertisement They have him now. The Braves and Acuña took a conservative approach to his rehab this time, extending it over 12 months rather than the nine months he took to get back from his July 2021 ACL tear. They wanted to avoid the residual soreness that slowed him throughout 2022. So far, it's just what they hoped for. 'I'm proud and happy, and just feeling extremely grateful to be a part of an organization that I think just put so much time and effort and energy and care into my recovery process, and invested in me,' Acuña said. 'I'm feeling well, and I think it's helping me just to play daily. And hopefully we just keep going to the place that we're going, keep feeling good.' The Braves had a 3-1 lead Saturday before Acuña homered off right-handed reliever Alek Jacob, connecting with a 0-1 sweeper down and in and driving it to the left-center seats at 111 mph. Acuña doesn't hit fence-scrapers or lollipop homers. He hits dangerous projectiles. The homer Friday traveled 467 feet and left his bat at 115.5 mph, the longest- and hardest-hit ball by a Braves player this season. 'It's like what I always say about him: You can't ease your way into a game with Ronald,' Olson said. 'Last night, perfect example — first pitch, 115 for a homer. He's dynamic when he gets on the bases. The throw last night at second. He's just … he's an MVP. And it's good getting that kind of a guy back.' Not only did Acuña hit a homer in his first game back Friday, but he did it on the first pitch he saw from Nick Pivetta to lead off the first inning — and after calling his shot. Acuña said he told his brothers he was going to hit a first-pitch homer, and he also told some Braves teammates. 'He said it earlier, he predicted it,' said Ozuna, who was among the players Acuña said it to before Friday's game. 'First-pitch homer. He said it, then he did it.' Advertisement It was the 35th leadoff homer of Acuña's career. He went 2-for-4 at the plate and had some outstanding defensive plays Friday, including throwing out Elias Díaz trying to stretch a single to a double to start the eighth inning. 'Doesn't surprise me,' said Ozuna, who, when asked to rate Acuña as an outfielder, said, 'He's at the top.' Ask people around baseball to name the best defensive right fielders, and few if any are likely to name Acuña. They are more likely to name his right-field counterpart in this series, San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. Ozuna thinks he knows why. 'Because he doesn't show off like those other guys, like Tatis and all those guys,' Ozuna said of Acuña. 'He's the best. He's complete — one player, complete. He can do everything (at a 'plus' scouting level). Plus-plus. Three times plus. It's energy, speed, power. He's smart. He's matured now. 'Yeah, everything.' On the Díaz play Friday, Acuña raced to the corner to collect the ball, turned and fired a bullet of a throw from the warning track to second base on the fly. Shortstop Nick Allen caught it and made an athletic play to tag Díaz in one motion as he tried to slide inside the bag to avoid the tag. 'I was like, he's got a strong arm, so if he gets to that ball, there's going to be a shot,' Allen said of his thinking as he watched Acuña sprint to the corner. 'And he did. And then I was like, wow, we really do have a shot, because I felt the runner coming. And then he made a good, strong throw, and it was kind of leading me to the runner, but I was like, 'If I get trucked right now, it is what it is. But I'm going to catch this thing and tag him.' 'It was a perfect throw, and I went in, got the tag in quick. (Acuña) has got a cannon, for sure. He did a good job. He let it eat and made a strong, accurate throw.'
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Braves vs. Rockies Tickets, First Pitch Time for Sunday, June 15
Braves vs. Rockies Tickets, First Pitch Time for Sunday, June 15 The Atlanta Braves and Drake Baldwin will take on the Colorado Rockies and Jordan Beck on Sunday, June 15 at 1:35 p.m. ET (on FDSSO and COLR). Buy Braves Tickets on SeatGeek Buy Braves Tickets on StubHub Braves vs. Rockies Game Info Game day: Sunday, June 15, 2025 Sunday, June 15, 2025 Game time: 1:35 p.m. ET 1:35 p.m. ET TV channel: FDSSO and COLR FDSSO and COLR Live Stream: Watch LIVE with Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply) Watch LIVE with Fubo! Location: Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Stadium: Truist Park Truist Park Braves Starter: TBA TBA Rockies Starter: TBA Braves vs. Rockies Tickets For Sale Braves vs. Rockies offensive insights The Braves have hit 51 homers this season, which ranks 17th in the league. Fueled by 126 extra-base hits, Atlanta ranks 14th in MLB with a .390 slugging percentage this season. The Braves have a team batting average of .246 this season, which ranks 13th among MLB teams. The Rockies are 25th in MLB play with 43 home runs. They average 0.9 per game. This season, Colorado's .363 slugging percentage is the fourth-lowest percentage in the majors. The Rockies have the third-worst batting average in the majors (.220). Watch MLB on Fubo Braves' top hitters Matt Olson's batting average this year is .240, and he has a .351 on-base percentage and a .457 slugging percentage. His strikeout rate is 23.1%, and his walk rate is 14.4%. He has 10 homers and 26 RBI, plus 27 runs scored. So far this season, Marcell Ozuna is hitting .266, with a .877 OPS (.416 on-base, .461 slugging). His strikeout rate is 21.3%, and his walk rate is 20.3%. He has eight home runs and 22 RBI, plus 22 runs scored. Austin Riley's current batting average is .283, and he has eight home runs and 28 RBI, plus 23 runs scored. He has a .333 on-base percentage, and a .444 slugging percentage. His strikeout rate is 27.2%, and his walk rate is 6.1%. Also for the Braves, Ozzie Albies' batting average is .225, with a .619 OPS (.284 on-base, .335 slugging). He has five homers and 17 RBI, plus 25 runs scored and five stolen bases on five attempts. His strikeout rate is 15.4%, and his walk rate is 7.2%. Rockies' top hitters Hunter Goodman has produced a batting average of .288 with an OPS of .819 (.339 OBP; .480 SLG) this season, while clubbing seven HRs with 24 runs and 31 RBI. He's walking at a 5.7% clip and striking out 23.4% of the time. In 149 plate appearances, Beck has produced a batting average of .259 with an OPS of .863 (.322 OBP; .541 SLG) this season, while belting eight dingers with 25 runs and 16 RBI. He's walking at an 8.1% clip and striking out 28.9% of the time. On the bases, he's pilfered five bags on seven attempts. So far this season, the Rockies' Ryan McMahon has a .206/.330/.364 triple slash line, and he's blasted six homers with 21 runs scored and 12 RBI. He's walking and striking out 15.2% and 31.5% of the time, respectively. At the dish, Brenton Doyle has crushed four bombs, driven in 18 runs, and scored 15 times while batting .211/.271/.329 in 166 plate appearances. He's also stolen five bags on five attempts. His strikeout rate is 23.5%, and his walk rate is 7.8%. Braves' injuries Ronald Acuna: 10 Day IL (Knee), Joe Jimenez: 60 Day IL (Knee), Ignacio Alvarez: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Reynaldo López: 60 Day IL (Shoulder) Rockies' injuries Chase Dollander: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Victor Vodnik: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Ryan Feltner: 15 Day IL (Back), Austin Gomber: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Thairo Estrada: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Kris Bryant: 60 Day IL (Lumbar), Jeff Criswell: 60 Day IL (Elbow) Buy Braves Tickets on SeatGeek Buy Braves Tickets on StubHub
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hot starts you might've missed: Braves' Drake Baldwin, Nationals' MacKenzie Gore lead the list
It's never a surprise when Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are having great seasons and sitting atop the leaderboards in their respective leagues. That's something we've come to expect from the two best baseball players in the world. But so far in 2025, there are some players doing special things that have been flying under the radar. Here are five underrated players off to hot starts this MLB season. Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves Underrated stat: .983 OPS, sixth in MLB (min. 90 PAs) Advertisement The Braves have a history of finding talented catchers. Whether it was Brian McCann, Javy Lopez, Eddie Perez or even Joe Torre, catching has almost always been a strength in Atlanta. And it looks like the Braves might've found their next great catcher in rookie backstop Drake Baldwin. So far this season, Baldwin has been not only one of the best rookies in baseball but also one of the best catchers. He made the club out of spring training and was forced into the starting role due to the injury to former All-Star Sean Murphy, and Baldwin has thrived with his increased playing time. Through 29 games, Baldwin is hitting .357 with five homers and 15 RBI, and his early-season success has led manager Brian Snitker to continue to get him at-bats, even since Murphy has come off the injured list. Although Atlanta came into the season with the expectation that Murphy would be their starter, as long as Baldwin is hitting, Snitker will need to keep him in the lineup. Dylan Moore, INF, Seattle Mariners Underrated stat: 1.307 OPS vs. LHP, third in MLB Advertisement Who doesn't love a player who can do everything? Since he got his first real opportunity with the Mariners back in 2019, utility man Dylan Moore has always had tools. His calling card has been his defense, which he has showcased at several positions, and he won the AL Gold Glove Award for the utility position last year. But this season, he has turned things up at the plate and become a huge part of Seattle's offense. Specifically, Moore has been one of baseball's best hitters against left-handed pitching. The Mariners' utility man is slashing .364/.488/.818 against southpaws, and his 1.307 OPS against lefties ranks third in all of baseball. After years as one of baseball's best kept secrets, Moore is putting together the best season of his career. He also happens to be a free agent at season's end. Not too shabby. Drake Baldwin (far left) and Tyler Mahle (far right) are among the underrated players delivering for their teams so far this seasons. (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports) Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics Underrated stat: .341 batting average, third in MLB Advertisement For years, Luis Arraez's elite bat-to-ball skills were unmatched, but A's rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson seems to have that same special ability. Wilson loves to swing the bat, as shown by his 5.1% walk rate, and when he makes contact, he often finds grass. He is currently second in MLB behind only Aaron Judge in hits, with 62, and he sits third in baseball with a robust .341 batting average, behind Judge and Freddie Freeman. And while the A's rookie likes to swing his way on base, his lack of walks is balanced out by his ability to not strike out. Wilson has struck out only 10 times this season, to go along with his 10 walks. The only qualified player with fewer punchouts in 2025 is Arraez (3). Coming into this season, I predicted that Wilson would win AL Rookie of the Year, and so far, he's making me look pretty smart. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals Underrated stat: 84 strikeouts and 13.42 K/9, both first in MLB Advertisement For years, left-hander MacKenzie Gore was supposed to be a star. One of the highest rated high school prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft, Gore was on a path to being one of baseball's best. But as is often the case, it wasn't a linear path forward for the Nationals' left-hander; in fact, it has taken some time for him to find success. After being traded to Washington in 2023, Gore finally got an opportunity to pitch in a rotation full-time, and so far this season, he looks like he's putting it all together. The 26-year-old currently leads MLB in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, something you'd expect from other names like Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal or Zack Wheeler. What has made the difference? Gore's curveball has helped him find the next level in 2025. The Nationals' southpaw currently has a 51.6% strikeout rate with his curveball, the third-highest K% on a pitch in baseball this season. Advertisement Tyler Mahle, RHP, Texas Rangers Underrated stat: .185 batting average against, fourth in MLB; 1.47 ERA, fifth in MLB The Texas Rangers have not had the smoothest start to the 2025, and the team that was the consensus favorite in the AL West before the season has instead been fighting for its life. But one area that was supposed to be a question for the Rangers, starting pitching, has actually been their biggest strength and kept them in the division race. Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is pitching in his first healthy season since 2022, has been a revelation in Texas' rotation. The Rangers' right-hander looks like one of the best starters in the American League so far, and a big reason behind that has been the dominance of his four-seam fastball. Opposing hitters are batting just .173 against Mahle's fastball, and when a pitcher is able to set the tone with the fastball, it only enhances the rest of his arsenal, as evidenced by his .185 batting average against overall. Mahle's success underscores how good the Rangers' rotation as a whole has been this season. As a group, Mahle (1.47 ERA), Nathan Eovaldi (1.61), Jacob deGrom (2.29) and Jack Leiter (4.25) rank second in MLB in starter ERA.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drake Baldwin's two-run home run (5)
Drake Baldwin extends the Braves' lead to 5-0 with a two-run homer in the top of the 3rd inning
Washington Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Drake Baldwin helps Braves reach .500 for first time in 2025 with 5-2 win over skidding Nats
ATLANTA — Drake Baldwin hit a two-run homer , Spencer Schwellenbach pitched seven strong innings and the Atlanta Braves improved to .500 for the first time this season with a 5-2 win over the skidding Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. The Braves (21-21), who began the season 0-7, handed the Nationals their seventh straight loss. Baldwin was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Austin Riley was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Atlanta native CJ Abrams homered on the first pitch of the game from Schwellenbach (2-3), who kept the Nationals in check from there. He gave up two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out three. Dylan Lee pitched a scoreless eighth and Pierce Johnson worked the ninth for his first save of the season. Amed Rosario was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Nats, who have scored just 15 runs during the skid. Washington starter Michael Soroka, an All-Star for Atlanta as a rookie in 2019, went four innings in his first appearance against his former team, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out four. Brad Lord (2-5) gave up two runs in two innings of relief. With the Braves trailing 2-0 in the fourth inning, Baldwin tied it when he drove a hanging 3-2 slider from Soroka over the right-field wall for his fourth homer of the season. Atlanta's Ozzie Albies ended an 0-for-28 drought with a one-out RBI single to right field in the sixth inning. It was the longest hitless streak of the nine-year veteran's career and the longest active streak in the majors. Bryce Elder (2-2, 4.97 ERA) will start for the Braves against the Nationals' Mitchell Parker (3-3, 3.97) on Wednesday night. ___ AP MLB:
