Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. off to slow start, but no need to worry

Atlanta's superstar is hitting the ball well despite low batting average early in the season

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:44am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a baseball player's batting motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in the team colors of the Atlanta Braves, conceptually representing the underlying power and talent of the player despite early-season statistical struggles.Cubist interpretation of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.'s batting stance captures his explosive power despite early-season struggles.NYC Today

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is off to a slow start at the plate, batting just .083 through the season's opening weekend. However, the underlying statistics suggest Acuna is hitting the ball well and his production will likely improve as the season goes on.

Why it matters

Acuna is one of the best young players in baseball, so any early-season struggles from him are bound to draw concern from Braves fans and the media. But the data shows Acuna is making solid contact and his numbers should normalize as the sample size increases.

The details

While Acuna's batting average sits at just .083 through the first three games, his average exit velocity of 92.7 mph ranks in the 92nd percentile in MLB. His expected slugging percentage of .535 also ranks in the 95th percentile, indicating he's hitting the ball hard but has been unlucky so far. Acuna also crushed a ball to straightaway center field on Sunday that was caught at the warning track, just missing a home run.

  • The 2026 MLB season began on March 28.

The players

Ronald Acuna Jr.

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and one of the best young players in baseball.

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What they’re saying

“Don't fret. Acuna is going to be just fine.”

— Billy Heyen, Author

The takeaway

While Acuna's early-season batting average is concerning on the surface, the underlying data shows he is hitting the ball extremely well and his production should improve as the season progresses. Braves fans can rest assured their superstar outfielder will return to his usual high level of performance.