{"id":5282,"date":"2023-05-27T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-27T21:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=5282"},"modified":"2023-05-27T14:56:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-27T21:56:43","slug":"ronald-acuna-mvp-breakdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/05\/27\/ronald-acuna-mvp-breakdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronald Acu\u00f1a MVP Breakdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.<\/a>‘s MVP campaign is off to a hot start in the 2023 MLB season. The Venezuelan right fielder is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. The 25-year-old has been in the MVP conversation every season since entering the league, but now the Atlanta Braves<\/a> star’s game has finally come full circle. Here’s why Ronald Acu\u00f1a is the frontrunner for the NL MVP early in the season.<\/p>\n

Leadoff Hitting:<\/h2>\n

Ronald Acu\u00f1a has always been a star hitter compared to the league average. With a league average sitting at .323 in the 2023 season, Acu\u00f1a’s leadoff-hitting numbers look unrealistic.<\/p>\n

In terms of Acu\u00f1a’s career, he is unparalleled when adding runs at the leadoff position. Grant McAuley has put context to prove how outstanding the outfielder has played in his career.<\/p>\n

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Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. has been the #Braves<\/a>' 1st batter of the game 271 times. He has 22 lead-off home runs. That's 8% of the time.<\/p>\n

Rickey Henderson holds the lead-off homer record. He was the 1st batter of the game 2,875 times and hit 81 HR. That's 2.8% of the time. pic.twitter.com\/RwUSlSbdXA<\/a><\/p>\n

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) May 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n