Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Cannon Arm Sparks Braves’ Defense and C… read more
ATLANTA — On a night that had all the drama and energy of a postseason battle, Ronald Acuña Jr. delivered a moment of defensive brilliance that left fans at Truist Park and even his teammates in awe. Though the Atlanta Braves’ star contributed offensively with a double and a triple, it was his astonishing throw in the third inning that became the talking point of the evening.
With one out and runners on base, Cody Bellinger lofted a fly ball deep into the right-field corner. Acuña tracked it down, made a seemingly casual catch, and in one seamless motion, launched a flat-footed, missile-like throw straight to third base. Braves third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. caught it on the fly and swiftly applied the tag to Yankees’ Jorbit Vivas for a stunning inning-ending double play.
The precision and velocity of the throw were immediately likened to those of legendary outfielder Roberto Clemente. Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t hesitate to make that comparison. “That was like a Roberto Clemente throw,” Snitker said. “That was big, too. Spencer (Strider) was working his tail off the whole game, so any help he could get like that was huge.”
Acuña, speaking through an interpreter, downplayed the dramatic flair, stating, “I think I just always try to anticipate those plays. That’s really what I always try to focus on is just anticipating the play before it happens. I wasn’t really trying to do anything besides that. I was just trying to get ready, and thankfully, I have a good arm and I have confidence in it.”
Snitker, reflecting on Acuña’s long-standing talent, shared a memory from the star’s younger days. “I remember when he was a kid and he would come with us on (spring training) trips. And I remember (Terry Pendleton) and I were sitting in Jupiter one day, and he made a play down the line there and threw somebody out at second. And I asked T.P., ‘Who is that?’ And it was Ronald.”
Strider and Alvarez, meanwhile, admitted they were both caught off guard by the play. Alvarez wasn’t even deking the runner — he just didn’t expect Acuña to make the throw. Strider, thinking the ball was going foul, had turned away from the play and was asking the umpire for a new ball when the throw came in. “So it’s a good thing that the ball didn’t get away at third,” Strider confessed. “Because I wouldn’t have been nowhere near where I needed to be. He’s a baseball player and a good actor, too. That was a great deke.”
Strider described the moment he realized the play was still live: “I saw everyone turn their heads to third base on the throw. I was relieved the throw was spot-on accurate.” Acuña later agreed it was one of the best throws of his career, and it further underscored his defensive value in right field.
While Acuña was making headlines with his arm, third baseman Austin Riley was working his way back from an injury that placed him on the 10-day injured list. Riley, who hurt his lower abdomen on a bare-handed bunt play in St. Louis, was seen taking batting practice and fielding grounders with coach Walt Weiss. “I’m on day seven of this thing and I feel like I’ve taken big strides,” Riley said. “Swung a little bit in the cage today, did some infield drills. I feel good.”
Unlike his more serious midsection strain in May 2024 that caused him to miss 14 games, Riley is optimistic about a quicker return. “It’s definitely not as bad,” he explained. “It’s a different area. It’s the lower abdomen. Last year was the oblique. But I definitely don’t feel like it’s anywhere to what that was last year.”
In Riley’s absence, rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr. has been filling in with a solid glove but has struggled at the plate, hitting just .122 with 12 strikeouts and no extra-base hits in 11 games. However, his defensive highlight came in the ninth inning of Friday’s 7-3 win, when he chased down a pop-up in foul territory and made a spectacular catch while tumbling over the tarp.
“That was a great play by Nacho,” said Strider. “Just tracking the ball. And obviously, there’s some hazards down there. Very selfless and athletic play.”
As the Braves continue to adjust, another subtle but notable shift in the lineup has seen Jurickson Profar taking over the leadoff role, with Acuña batting third. With the recent offensive output, it appears this new structure might be here to stay.
While questions around Riley’s return and Alvarez’s bat persist, one thing is clear — Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to be one of baseball’s most electrifying talents, and his defensive gem on Friday was just another reminder of why he’s one of the sport’s most complete players.
