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When will the Atlanta Braves call up outfielder and top prospect Ronald Acúna Jr?

By Jeff Schafer

MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: Ronald Acuna #24 of the Atlanta Braves and the World Team swings at a pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: Ronald Acuna #24 of the Atlanta Braves and the World Team swings at a pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Braves can call up Acúna any day now…when will it be though?

The guy is available any day, but is the time now?  We’re now under the blanket of when the Atlanta Braves can call up Ronald Acúna Jr and still get that seventh year of control.

A few weeks ago, the question was what is the date the Braves are able to call him up?  Now the question is when will they?  The reasons are kinda strange though and something we didn’t see coming.

Preston Tucker has been hitting the ball extremely well.  Through 14 games, the 27-year-old is batting .300 with two doubles, three home runs, six runs scored and 12 RBIs.  He’s also not really hurting the Braves in the outfield — which is what a lot of people were saying.

On the other hand, Acúna Jr hasn’t been hitting well while in Gwinnett.  Through eight games in Triple-A in 2018, he’s hitting .152 with one double and two runs scored.  He’s also stolen one base and been caught stealing once.

Acúna’s stats in the 2018 Spring Training were ridiculous.  He hit .432 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in just 16 games.  With those stats, he was probably one of the best hitters in the game over that time period.

Then, the Braves made the decision to send him to Triple-A.  Did that do something mentally to Acúna?  Is he trying to do too much?  Is he upset?  Is he bored?

So with those stats and Tucker playing well, what do the Braves do?  The MLB Network boys discuss their thoughts…

Interesting comments from MLB Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez…he says during this segment that he’s thinking the Braves will sit veteran outfielder Nick Markakis when they call Acúna up.  I think many are wanting this, but I’m not sure I see the Braves doing so.

DOB said on twitter this morning that sitting Markakis could hurt the club house…when asked about sitting Markakis he responded with … “And that’s the part where you don’t understand running a clubhouse and maintaining team morale and the chemistry they have and their respect for people running the team.”

So now we sit with these questions.  When will they call up Ronald Acúna Jr and Who sits when he arrives?

Acúna has to play everyday when he’s called up.  So it could be a rotation with all four guys or Tucker/Markakis takes a seat.

The Gwinnett’s Sunday game was rained out as well so Acúna couldn’t improve his stats.  I was thinking he’d have a great weekend and we’d all forget about his “slow start” stats.  That didn’t really happen so the Monday call up could be in question.

The other thing to think about is the Braves sent Acúna to Triple-A after Spring Training to “work on some things”.  If they call him up after the slow start, would they look like liars?  Is that a look they want after coming right off an MLB instigation?

Next: Albies, Sanchez shine in series opener v Cubs

We’ll see…the Braves are scheduled to start their three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on Monday at 7:35pm ET.

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