2020 60GAME ATLANTA BRAVES SCHEDULE JULYJULY SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 HOME AWAY 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4:1025 4:10 26 7:0827 6:4028 6:40 29 7:1030 7:1031 7:10 AUGUSTAUGUST SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 7:10 2 1:10 3 7:104 7:105 7:10 6 7:10 7 7:058 6:05 9 1:05 10 6:0511 7:0512 7:05 13 14 7:1015 6:10 16 1:10 17 7:10 18 7:1019 7:10 20 21 7:1022 7:10 / / / / / / 23 1:10 24 25 7:1026 7:10 27 28 7:0529 1:15 / / / 7:08 3130 7:30 SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 7:3021 7:30 3 4 7:105 7:10 6 1:107 1:10 8 7:109 7:10 10 6:05 11 6:05 12 6:05 13 12:35 14 7:3515 7:3516 7:35 17 18 7:1019 7:07 BB&T and SunTrust are now Truist 20 1:10 21 7:1022 7:1023 7:10 24 7:10 25 7:10 26 7:10 Together for better 27 3:10 28 29 30 WATCH ON: LISTEN ON: truist.com Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2020 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, BB&T, SunTrust, WHEN THE BRAVES SCORE, YOU SCORE the Truist logo and Truist Purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SAFER TRAVEL. You deserve peace of mind while you travel, which is why we've blocked middle seats through at least September 30. Learn more about the Delta CareStandard at DELTA.COM. Don’t leave the TV on for him. Even if he is your best friend. Be smart. Live efficiently. Let's face it. When you leave the TV on for your dog, it costs energy and money. And that’s money you could be spending on more important things for you and your pup. For more tips and programs to help make your home more efficient, visit georgiapower.com/efficiency. Acuña generated his 67 homers in only 1,059 at- bats, an average of 15.8 at bats per home run. Taking a more comprehensive look at his all-around performance, and it’s best contextualized through the lens of baseball’s five tools: hitting for power, hitting for average, running, fielding and throwing. As the owner of the five longest Braves’ home runs over the last two seasons, the prodigious power Acuña possesses is undeniable. The frequency with which he has hit them, though, is more remarkable. After a 26-homer rookie season as a 20-year-old, Acuña launched 41 this past season, becoming the third player in history to reach that total in a single season prior turning 22, joining Hall-of-Famers Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott. Only Ott (86), Tony Conigliaro (84) and Mathews (72) hit more total homers before their 22nd birthday. Power Tools Both debuted as a 20-year-old. Both would However, Acuña generated his 67 homers go on to be named National League Rookie of in only 1,059 at-bats, an average of 15.8 at Inside Ronald Acuña Jr.’s historic start the Year. Both also had imposing sophomore bats per home run, by far the fewest of any campaigns, earning All-Star selections and of those three players. In fact, Mathews, By Matt Grili finishing in the top ten of MVP balloting. who was next closest, was nearly two full Robinson would play an additional 19 at bats behind that rate. hen analyzing Ronald Acuña Jr.’s first two major-league seasons, seasons, slugging 586 home runs, including Paired with Acuña’s power is his elite speed, W it’s simplest to use Baseball-Reference’s “similarity scores” index. winning the 1966 Triple Crown in his first of six seasons with the Orioles. While it remains making him one of the most dynamic dual The model compares two players based on statistics produced through to be seen what Acuña will do for an encore, threats in the history of the game. He led certain ages of their career. For the 22-year-old Braves outfielder, his he is off to one of the most historic starts for the National League with 37 stolen bases anyone his age in major-league history. last season, due in large part to his speed closest match is one of the all-time greats: Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson. 6 ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 7 Acuña’s overall defense has been worth 0.9 Wins Above Replacement, boosting his total WAR to 9.9, a total many major leaguers aspire to reach – for their entire career. that enabled him to travel 29.4 feet-per-second in today’s climate it’s noteworthy. Broadly average focusing exclusively on balls hit into the led to 13 outfield assists, especially impressive – only the Nationals’ Trea Turner was faster. The speaking, the average major-leaguer hit .260 field of play, eliminating outcomes not affected given he has been deployed throughout the unique power/speed combination allowed Acuña over the last two years. Narrowing the scope by the opposing defense, was .343, much outfield. With five assists as a left fielder and to become the youngest person in the sport’s to focus on players Acuña’s age or younger and greater than the .301 league average. Further four each as center and right fielder, Acuña history to hit 41 home runs and steal 37 bases those that have compiled at least 1,000 plate implying he hit into some poor fortune, 77 of joined Texas All-Star Joey Gallo as the only in a season. Only four other players, regardless appearances, and Washington’s Juan Soto is the Acuña’s outs have come on balls hit over 95 players the last two seasons with at least four of age, have reached those totals, including the only player to have hit better – and that’s by miles-per-hour, well above the 55.2 average of assists from each of those three positions. likes of Barry Bonds and Alex Rodríguez. two thousandths of a point. the qualified major leaguer in that time. Acuña’s overall defense has been worth 0.9 Wins Above Replacement, boosting his total In an era lauding powerful swings and launch But, as a couple statistics suggest, the Undoubtedly, Acuña’s accomplishments thus WAR to 9.9, a total many major leaguers aspire angle, Acuña has also maintained a high batting Venezuelan native’s batting average likely far have primarily been achieved through his to reach – for their entire career. average. While his .285 mark may pale in should have been even higher. His Batting offense. His defensive efforts, though, have also And for Acuña, it’s just the start. comparison to Ty Cobb’s all-time .366 figure, Average on Balls in Play (BABIP), a batting contributed to his success. His potent arm has 8 ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 9 ATLANTA BRAVES COACHES THE BRAVES DELIVER THE PITCH. WE DELIVER THE FANS. 59 57 JOSÉ CASTRO SAL FASANO ASSISTANT HITTING COACH CATCHING COACH 43 39 34 BRIAN SNITKER RICK KRANITZ MARTY REED MANAGER PITCHING COACH BULLPEN COACH 28 37 4 KEVIN SEITZER RON WASHINGTON WALT WEISS HITTING COACH THIRD BASE COACH BENCH COACH ATLANTA BRAVES ROSTER 13 18 1 17 48 RONALD ACUÑA JR. MATT ADAMS OZZIE ALBIES JOHAN CAMARGO JHOULYS CHACÍN OUTFIELDER INFIELDER INFIELDER INFIELDER PITCHER Proud partner of the Atlanta Braves and their fans. Proud partner of the Atlanta Braves and their fans. ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 11 NEW YORK METS ATLANTA BRAVES MANAGER Luis Rojas (19) MANAGER Brian Snitker (43) COACHES Hensley Meulens (58), Chili Davis (54), Tom Slater (56), Jeremy Hefner (93), COACHES Sal Fasano (57), Rick Kranitz (39), Marty Reed (34), Kevin Seitzer (28), Jeremy Accardo (50), Tony DeFrancesco (11), Gary Disarcina (10), Brian Schneider (23), Ricky Bones (25) Ron Washington (37) Walt Weiss (4), José Castro (59) PITCHERS NO. B/T HT WT DOB PITCHERS NO. B/T HT WT DOB Tyler Bashlor 49 R/R 6' 0" 195 04/16/1993 Jhoulys Chacín 48 R/R 6' 3" 215 01/07/1988 Dellin Betances 68 R/R 6' 8" 265 03/23/1988 Grant Dayton 75 L/L 6' 2" 210 11/25/1987 Jacob deGrom 48 L/R 6' 4" 180 06/19/1988 Max Fried 54 L/L 6' 4" 190 01/18/1994 Edwin Díaz 39 R/R 6' 3" 165 03/22/1994 Shane Greene 19 R/R 6' 4" 200 11/17/1988 Jeurys Familia 27 R/R 6' 3" 240 10/10/1989 Luke Jackson 77 R/R 6' 2" 210 08/24/1991 Seth Lugo 67 R/R 6' 4" 225 11/17/1989 Chris Martin 55 R/R 6' 8" 225 06/02/1986 Steven Matz 32 R/L 6' 2" 201 05/29/1991 Tyler Matzek 96 L/L 6' 3" 230 10/19/1990 Rick Porcello 22 R/R 6' 5" 205 12/27/1988 Mark Melancon 36 R/R 6' 1" 215 03/28/1985 Paul Sewald 51 R/R 6' 3" 207 05/26/1990 A.J. Minter 33 L/L 6' 0" 215 09/02/1993 Chasen Shreve 47 L/L 6' 4" 195 07/12/1990 Sean Newcomb 15 L/L 6' 5" 255 06/12/1993 Drew Smith 62 R/R 6' 2" 190 09/24/1993 Darren O'Day 56 R/R 6' 4" 220 10/22/1982 Hunter Strickland 71 R/R 6' 3" 225 09/24/1988 Mike Soroka 40 R/R 6' 5" 225 08/04/1997 Michael Wacha 45 R/R 6' 6" 215 07/01/1991 Josh Tomlin 50 R/R 6' 1" 190 10/19/1984 Justin Wilson 38 L/L 6' 2" 205 08/18/1987 Touki Toussaint 62 R/R 6' 3" 215 06/20/1996 Kyle Wright 30 R/R 6' 4" 215 10/02/1995 CATCHERS NO.