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Can Ronald Acuna Jr. become the first Atlanta Braves Home Run Derby winner?

By Daniel Rasmussen

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a home run during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 20, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a home run during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 20, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 25: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a first pitch, lead-off home run in the 1st inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 25: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a first pitch, lead-off home run in the 1st inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No doubt about it, fan vote aside, it’s been an All-Star worthy season for Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald  Acuna Jr. On Monday evening, he’ll get the chance to make his 2019 even more special when he participates in MLB’s annual Home Run Derby.

It might well be the first of many Derby appearances for Ronald Acuna Jr., who has taken the league by storm with his 21 home runs and helped give the Atlanta Braves a six-game lead in the National League East.

In case you aren’t aware, the MLB Home Run Derby will take place Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Acuna is set to face off against Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell in the first round.

The winner of the Home Run Derby will take home $1 million. And one lucky fan has a chance to win $250,000 by winning MLB.com’s Home Run Derby Bracket Challenge.

Despite all the hype Acuna received as he progressed his way through the minor leagues, Acuna still finds a way to “wow” the fans on a nightly basis, and he’ll have one of his biggest stages of all in Monday’s Home Run Derby.

Let’s be real — Acuna seems made for this kind of gig.

He’s aptly nicknamed “El Abusador” (the abuser) for his propensity for crushing baseballs in such a way that few others can rival, and fans across the country will be tuned in for that power display on Monday night.

Atlanta Braves fans will be hoping to see something from Acuna that they’ve never gotten to see from their team before in history — a Derby champion.

Several have had the chance, but none have brought home the hardware. Can Acuna be the first?

Here’s a brief look at past Atlanta Brave participants in the Home Run Derby and how they fared.

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