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Atlanta Braves: Could Ronald Acuna Eventually Get Mike Trout-Like Contract?

By Jake Mastroianni

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 18, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 18, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – MARCH 12: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the Grapefruit League spring training game at Champion Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – MARCH 12: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the Grapefruit League spring training game at Champion Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Can Ronald Acuna Match Mike Trout?

Again, Acuna only has 433 Major League at-bats in his career, but I think a lot of people would not be surprised to see him put up similar numbers to Trout.

Most believe Acuna will hit 30-plus home runs a year pretty easily. He hit 26 in 2018 as a rookie, so that one is not hard to believe.

He also stole 16 bases last year, so it’s not hard to imagine him stealing 20 bases a year. But I don’t think we’ll see him reach 49 like Trout did in his rookie season.

The one area where I don’t think Acuna will matchup with Trout is in batting average.

Even though he did hit a solid .293 in his rookie year, most project him to be a .275 or .280 hitter.

And Acuna does have a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but Trout struggles with that as well and nobody seems to mind.

Trout struck out 139, 136, 184, 158, and 137 times during the 2012-2016 seasons.

The past two seasons he struck out just 90 and 124 times, but he also didn’t get over 500 at-bats in either of those seasons.

Last year Acuna struck out 123 times. But again, no one cares if you’re putting up those other numbers.

As far as the awards, that’s hard to predict for Acuna. I certainly think if he puts up the numbers everyone projects him to, he’ll be in the top five of the MVP discussion every year.

The problem for Acuan is that he has another annual MVP candidate on his team in Freddie Freeman that he’ll be fighting for votes.

Still, I think it’s very possible for Acuna to average 30-plus home runs, 20-plus stolen bases, and a .280 average over the next five-to-six years.

And if he does, the Atlanta Braves will have a big decision to make.

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