World Series: Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. Can Imagine Himself Outside


HOUSTON – As Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler entered the batting area for the first inning of the 2021 World Series on Tuesday, one of his teammates sitting in the bunker pretended to be there instead. He’s not an outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. He wants to take Soler’s job; that he misses his job.

“At all the moments, even key moments, I picture myself throwing a bat there,” Acuña said in Spanish before Game 2 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday.

Reaching the World Series for the first time since 1999, Atlanta overcame a major hurdle: the absence of its best player.

Acuña, 23, is a dazzling player on the court and one of the greatest in all sport. He can run fast, hit the balls hard and shoot accurately. He won the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Award. The two-time All-Star was playing as a Most Valuable Player Award nominee before his season abruptly ended in July – .283 average, .990 base-plus slow percentage, 24 home runs, 17 stolen bases-10.

While chasing a flying ball against the Marlins in Miami, Acuña attempted a jump and landed on his right leg. His knee bent and he tumbled into the outfield wall. The damage was substantial: a torn anterior cruciate ligament required surgery, normally followed by a healing period of eight to 12 months.

This could be the highlight of an eventful season for Atlanta. Due to Acuña’s injury, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos continued. trade frenzy to strengthen the outer field. Eddie Rosario, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler and Adam Duvall were brought in. Anthopoulos’ gambles paid off as players won, helping power the team’s World Series.

Four new outfielders were asked to fill in Acuña, as well as former All-Star Marcell Ozuna. administrative leave While being investigated by Major League Baseball for domestic violence. Collectively, they reach .289 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs entering Friday. Rosario was the most valuable player in the National League Championship Series, and Soler was in the first inning of the World Series.

“It’s amazing — they’re doing an incredible job,” said Acuña, who signed an eight-year, $100 million deal through 2026. “They helped the team and that’s what we needed most.”

Freddie Freeman, a stellar first baseman added: “It’s pretty amazing that we tried to cover it up with four guys to get Ronald’s performance. “Even though we wanted Ronald to be here, I think we accomplished that.”

Watching their successes, though, has a bittersweet aura to Acuña. After helping the team win their fourth consecutive NL East division title, he currently wants nothing more than to play alongside his teammates. He originally planned to settle for the next best option: joining them at the clubhouse and sanctuary for home games in Truist Park.

But when Atlanta reached 88 wins NLCS Against the 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers, Acuña asked the team’s athletic trainers if they could travel to the World Series if they moved forward. He said they should sign because they are very wary of him and want him to avoid any potentially harmful action.

“Going to the World Series is a dream,” he said, later adding: “I always love being with my teammates. I live with them more than my real family. This is also my family, so I told them I wanted to be with the team wherever we went.”

For Atlanta Manager Brian Snitker, bringing Acuña to the World Series was no easy feat, with other key players injured, including starter Mike Soroka (re-torn Achilles tendon) and catcher Stephen Vogt (sports hernia surgery).

“I’m really glad these guys are here to experience that with their teammates,” Snitker said. Said. “Ronald had a big part in that until he got injured. I want them to experience that because they are part of this club.”

Although he preferred Acuña to be on the court, Snitker said Acuña’s World Series trip is still worthwhile. “I want you to remember that feeling when we came to spring training, how hard it was to get here, how hard and consistent you had to work every day to get yourself to this position,” Snitker added.

Acuña, who noted that this was the most important injury of his career, is a new experience to watch the entire match from his shelter. Known for his lively playing style and personal talent, Acuña channeled this from the bunker to the cheerleaders while wearing his jersey. He constantly talks to his teammates and fuels them.

When catcher Travis d’Arnaud crushed a single run A 7-2 loss in Game 2 Having tied the best-of-seven series in a single game, Acuña waved his arms and gleefully tapped the guard rails of the bunker. Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, one of Acuña’s closest friends on the team, said recently that Acuña had spoken encouraging words throughout the playoffs, reminding them how much he wanted them to win a championship this year. This will be the franchise’s first since 1995.

“It feels weird,” Acuña said of not playing. “I feel totally sad because I’m part of this team and I would love to play there and give my best and 100 percent. But God’s time is perfect and it’s my turn to be on the bench to support my teammates.”

At the same time, of course, it’s his turn to be healthy. For the first month and a half after surgery, Acuña said she wondered if she would ever walk again because her leg felt so weak. But now, she happily reports that she’s making progress.

He no longer needs crutches and has no visible glitches. He said he spends roughly three and a half hours a day in rehab and uses weights to gradually strengthen his leg. And he said he would soon start swinging a stick and loosening his throwing arm. The rough estimate for his comeback is early next season, in May.

“If it were up to me, I’d be back sooner,” Acuña said. “But I’m in no rush. I have to do everything calmly because this is the support of my knee and the whole body. I’ll be back when I feel better.”

Acuña embraced him as he walked through the tunnel connecting the visitors’ shelter in Minute Maid Park to the clubhouse on Wednesday. That was from 75-year-old Ralph Garr, a former Atlanta star outfielder who served as a special duty scout for the team.

“I love you to death,” he said to Acuña. “How are you? You made them play well.”

Acuna laughed. He previously admitted that he dreams of returning the team to the World Series next year – “but this time I’m playing.”



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