MLB: 5 possible cover athletes for the new Backyard Baseball game
By Asher Fair
Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves
The last four seasons have seen Ronald Acuna Jr. suffer two major season-ending knee injuries, but when he is healthy, he is the best player on the field at any given moment.
During the 2021 season, he was on an MVP pace before suffering a torn ACL. After remaining limited in 2022, he had a historic 2023 campaign, capped off by a unanimous NL MVP Award. In 2023, he became the founding member of the 40/70 club, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 73 bases.
His stolen base total was the highest since Jose Reyes stole 78 in 2007, and it was just the fourth season in which a player stole at least 70 bases this millennium. The other three players only combined for 32 home runs in their respective 70-steal seasons.
Like Gunnar Henderson, one thing missing for Acuna is postseason success. The Braves did win the World Series in 2021, but he was injured for the duration of the playoff run, and they did not win a single postseason series in 2022 or 2023 after earning a first-round bye both years.
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