Ronald Acuna Jr.’s Home Run Struggles Loom Large, MVP Favorite Improves at the Plate Despite Big Hit Drought

The electrifying star of the Atlanta Braves, Ronald Acuna Jr., is the latest talk of the town. He was a lock for many as the 2024 National League MVP favorite. It was quite obvious given how well he performed in the past season. Let’s remind you of his historic 2023 campaign. 

Well, he came off a stellar season with an impressive 40-homer, 70-stolen base season. Acuna Jr. was pegged as baseball’s best player entering this year. But the road has been quite rocky for this one. A recent slump in the long ball department has some shaking their heads. 

Is Ronald Acuna Jr.’s homerless season a matter of concern?

The 25-year-old superstar has not gone yard yet in a matter of 14 games. Quite concerning? Well, that number might be concerning superficially. But a closer look reveals a more detailed story. Though there has been a home run drought, Acuna Jr. is silently putting together a scorching offensive show. 

As of now, his batting shows some sizzling numbers. With a.321 and a.903 OPS (on-base percentage and slugging percentage), Acuna Jr. is establishing that he can punish opposing pitchers in ways other than homers. Furthermore, he has been hitting line drives with authority, and his consistency in finding gaps and racking up base hits is one to note. 

So, what’s the deal with not even a single homer? Well, some believe that it is just a matter of time. While there is no doubt that Acuna Jr. possesses immense raw power, it’s perhaps a matter of catching the right pitch at the right moment. Others also point to a slight adjustment in his swing. With that, he is probably prioritizing contact over pure power in the early stages.

Acuna Jr. is a force to be reckoned with

Whatever the reason, one thing remains clear: Ronald Acuna Jr. is a force to be reckoned with. It has been displayed time and again that he’s hitting the ball hard, getting on base consistently, and driving in runs. Fans believe that the home runs will surely come. It’s just about ‘when’ and not ‘if. And when the homers do come, the cheers of 2023 for Acuna will come back to life. 

So Braves fans, while it’s safe to breathe easy, do keep your eyes on Acuna Jr. Hoping that this is merely a homerless stretch and that his overall offensive dominance suggests a breakout is imminent. The reigning MVP prospect is still plenty in his groove, and the baseball world waits with bated breath for the next moonshot to light up the sky.