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Ronald Acuña Jr.

Born: 12/18/1997 (Age: 20)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 205
Primary Position: CF
Secondary Position: RF
Physical/Health
Impressive, proportioned athlete with plus strength and speed. Filled out, closer to 190 pounds. Some thickness in lower half. Strong, quick wrists. Could potentially add thickness to middle with age if not maintained.
Evaluator John Eshleman
Report Date 12/21/2017
Dates Seen Nov 1-7
Affiliate Peoria Javelinas (, )
MLB ETA Risk Factor OFP Video
2018 Low 80 No
Tool Future Grade Report
Hit 60 High hands (above ear) in set-up. Moderate leg kick with big forward stride into wide stance at max load. Load is short and quiet, sets up slight upward launch angle. Stays balanced, in sync through maxed-out extension. Excellent, explosive hip rotation, plus-plus bat-speed and plus barrel control all result in consistent, all-fields, hard contact. Stays closed, let's ball travel deep and demonstrates solid approach most of the time. Can get over-aggressive early in counts. Swing has some length and barrel drag, exposing Acuna to plus inside fastballs. Bat speed and barrel control compensate. Swing-and-miss becomes moderate concern when selling out for power.
Power 70 Wrist strength and quickness is major asset. Generates additional power via leg lift. Short load, wide stance, and launch angle allow him to tap large portion of raw power in games. HR pop to all fields but in games mostly pull side. Will sell-out in hitters counts despite not needing it, as power comes easily with quiet swing. This adds to swing-and-miss.
Baserunning/Speed 55 4.23 home to first. Faster underway with longer strides. Can steal some bases. Additional weight could slow him down as he matures.
Glove 55 Demonstrates good reads and solid first step; gets to the gaps and balls in, less confidence tracking back. With age, could slow down and move off position but will play to above average into mid-20s.
Arm 70 One-hopper on line from RF warning track. Throws to correct base/target with accuracy.
Overall

Impressive player ready to contribute now despite youth; eventually fits in three-hole with power/hit combo. Will stick in CF; if moves to RF, more than enough glove and arm to handle position. Bat is elite. Player projects to hit for 30 HRs with high average and ability to steal some bases given current development and age. Sky is limit talent-wise, especially if player maintains body and continues improvement in CF. OFP is .300 hitter, 30 HRs, 20 SB in CF.

Risks are limited, although Acuna's swing can get long when he's trying to crush everything, dragging the barrel and exposing himself to quality pitches; when he maintains his approach, bat is premium. Could move to RF, but bat will play there.

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