Ronald Acuna

BP - 31

DOB: 12/18/1997 Height/Weight: 6’0” 180 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R

The Good: Flashes all five tools with quick-twitch ability at an up-the-middle position. Despite average size, there’s plus power and even more raw because of explosive hands and lower half. Also shows advanced tracking and pitch recognition for age and above-average to plus speed.

The Bad: Center field defense remains more projection than results, and his future in center isn’t guaranteed. Swing can get slightly long from high hands and long stride that affects his bat plane at times and leaves the future hit tool around a low 50. Could be a moment-of-truth period with his swing in the upper levels that requires an adjustment.



The Irrelevant: Acuna Matata, roughly translated, means “no worries, I’m going to hit 10 straight bombs in batting practice.”

The Role: OFP 70—All-star center fielder
Likely 55—Above-average outfielder

The Risks: Acuna suffered a torn thumb ligament but recovered well late in the season, so the injury appears to be past him. The main question is his future defensive home. His value could take a slight hit with a move off center, but many believe he’ll be able to stick up the middle. His swing could also be exposed a little against advanced pitching, but his tracking skills should serve him well.

Major league ETA: 2019

Ben Carsley’s Fantasy Take: We’re two players in and I’m already pouring cold water all over your prospect flames. Look, I get it. Acuna’s power/speed/athleticism combo gives him an OF1 ceiling, and OF1s win leagues. Plus, you have to get in early on players like Acuna or you’re not going to get in on them at all. Just be mindful of how long it’s going to take Acuna to get to the majors, how little playing time he has under his belt, and how far his hit tool has to go. The ceiling here makes Acuna a very good fantasy prospect, but his value is capped by a long lead time and a low floor.

MLB - N/R

Fangraphs - N/R

Hit-30/60 Raw Power-55/60 Game Power-30/55 Run-60/55 Fielding-45/55 Throw-55/55

Relevant/Interesting Metrics Slashed .311/.387/.432 with 10% walk rate at Low-A.

Scouting Report Acuna is a plus runner whose speed and athleticism will allow him to play center field and, if his feel for the position continues to improve into his late 20s, he might be able to pass there even as he starts to slow down. For now he works there on pure physical ability and projects as above average at peak.

I became infatuated with Acuna during instructional league when I saw him spit on several (admittedly fringey) sliders just off the plate and then vaporize a well-located fastball up and in. He has impressive ball/strike recognition but is still learning to identify breaking balls, over the top of which he swings too often. I think his current strikeout rate is misleadingly low, but his ability to draw walks is legitimate.

Acuna has above-average raw power right now and I have it projected to plus at maturity, a result of his high-effort uppercut rips. He has plus bat speed and solid barrel control considering how hard he swings. I’ve seen him tone things down and try to poke difficult pitches the other way and also bunt for a hit.

Acuna missed three-and-a-half months with a torn thumb ligament in 2016. His hands are very still in the box (it looks like he doesn’t load them at all) and this stiffness was bothersome for a source with whom I spoke. I think he makes it work and that we’re looking at something close to .270/.330/.450 and 20-plus home runs from a viable defensive center fielder.

KLaw - 36
Age: 19 (12/18/97) | B/T: R/R Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180 Top level: Low-A | 2016: NR

Acuna’s big breakout season was cut short when he tore ligaments in his thumb suffered on a head-first slide. The injury limited him to just 40 games for low-A Rome where he hit .311/.387/.432 with a 16 percent strikeout rate as an 18-year-old, although he did go to Australia this winter to make up for some of the lost at-bats.

Acuna is a four-tool player now, with the chance to develop power in time as he fills out physically. He has a simple but hard swing, making it all the more impressive that he so rarely struck out last summer. He’s a plus runner but not a terribly instinctive one yet, with his speed playing up more on defense than on the bases.

Had Acuna raked over a full season, I likely would have had him higher on this list, but the sample is a little small for that since he didn’t have to face pitchers multiple times. He does have the ceiling of an elite player -- a .300/.375 AVG/OBP guy with 15-plus homers and plus-plus defense in center, which could make him a top 10 or 15 player in the league if he gets there.