Weeks After Postseason Disappointment, Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Openly Invites Juan Soto as 25-YO Star Seemingly Hits Trade Market

Despite having a 100-win season, the Atlanta Braves found themselves dishearteningly exiting from the Division Series in October. Weeks later, the club has started making offseason moves, strengthening the roster for 2024. Their official X page just posted a status regarding LHP Brad Hand’s prospective trading option for the upcoming season, which has been declined. When asked to choose any other current player instead, the team didn’t answer. But Ronald Acuña Jr. did and he chose Juan Soto.

The star outfielder didn’t take even a minute to come up with his prompt answer choosing a rival player. A strange reply, considering that the San Diego Padres player had an on-field feud with Acuña up until a few months ago. Do the 25-year-old players now harbor similar sentiments for each other? Or is Acuña just building a castle of sand?

Ronald Acuña Jr.’s fantasy acquisitions

Several baseball analysts have compared Acuña with other players in the past. But it is only Juan Soto who holds a candle to his talents. Now the Braves star has gone and added fuel to the fire by naming Soto as a player he wants to call a teammate. How likely is it for the Braves to add the star outfielder to their roster?

Before Braves fans get their hopes up, it should be noted that the Atlanta and Soto pairing doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. The Padres took him after he turned down the Nationals’ $440 million for a 15-year contract extension deal. Had he chosen it, it could’ve been the priciest contract in MLB history. Will the Braves be willing enough to empty their pockets for Soto if they get the chance to have him?

A few years ago, Soto made a similar praising comment as Acuña without any indication of wanting to play for the same team as him. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Juan Soto revealed that he feels brotherly towards Acuña, stating “I see myself in him”.

The Braves slugger didn’t shy away from returning the compliment himself; he indicated that, according to him, Soto is the most exciting player to watch from a fan’s perspective. “I just like the way that he plays and the confidence that he has on the field. To me, that’s just what makes him exciting.”

Between him and Soto, the Venezuelan player thinks that the Dominican is much better at bat flips and scoring hits. For Soto, Acuña’s defense is something he wishes he could learn from. What do the statistics say?

Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr.—a match made in heaven or hell?

Both Acuña and Soto belong to a similar age group. Their regular season hits record highs at 767 and 768, respectively. Acuña has an on-base and slugging record of .918 in his career. Soto stands at .946 for the same. Even their homer records go head to head, with Soto scoring 160 in 5 years and Acuña’s record of 161. They both have hit eleven triples in their regular seasons. No wonder Soto feels so brotherly towards Acuña; they might’ve as well inherited the same mind to work with!

Read More: “No Matter What”: Getting Shattered by Bryce Harper’s Phillies, Braves’ MVP Front-Runner Concludes Season With Emotional Farewell Note

Although the Braves and Soto teaming isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, there’s always the next season to look forward to. And who knows—considering so many similarities between the star sluggers, fate might take a swing at it! Only time will tell.

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