ATLANTA -- As Braves fans continue to anticipate Ronald Acuna Jr.'s arrival, the young outfielder enhanced their excitement by homering during the fifth inning of Triple-A Gwinnett's game against Scranton-Wilkes Barre on Tuesday night at Coolray Field.
Acuna displayed his power potential as he drilled left-hander Josh Rogers' delivery over the left-field wall. The two-run shot was Acuna's second hit of the game, and landed an estimated 395 feet away. He was credited with a first-inning single when his attempt to stretch it to a double was erased because he couldn't keep his foot on second base as the tag was being applied.
When the season began, it was believed Acuna would have joined Atlanta's lineup either this past weekend or on Monday when the Braves' homestand began. But Atlanta has had to keep a patient approach with the 20-year-old outfielder, who entered Tuesday hitting .139 (5-for-36) with one extra-base hit and 14 strikeouts.
MLB Pipeline ranks Acuna as the game's second-best prospect behind Angels' rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani.
Gwinnett concludes a homestand on Wednesday. If Acuna starts to heat up, there's a chance the Braves could promote him before the end of this week.