The Atlanta Braves are playing some impressive baseball right now despite having to weather injuries to key pieces of the team. They are amid a nine-game homestand where they've won three of the four games played so far.
Currently touting the best record in Major League Baseball, the Braves have flexed their offensive muscles despite lackluster early-season performances from Austin Riley and Matt Olson. Pitching has started to settle in as well after a bit of a rocky start to 2024.
With so much action happening over the last couple of days, let's check out some news from the Braves and around the league.
Travis d'Arnaud continues to slug for the Braves
Atlanta impressed against the Texas Rangers this weekend, winning two out of three games thanks to an otherworldly performance from their veteran catcher. Travis d'Arnaud did not have a home run before the Rangers came to town.
He decided that needed to change as he homered three times in game one of that series and homered again the next day. That hasn't ended as the veteran homered again on Monday night against the Marlins.
Travis d'Arnaud is the first Braves player with 5+ HR in an 8 at-bat span since the Braves moved to Atlanta (1966)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 23, 2024
h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/t6WhFiBc1o
Over a four-game stretch, d'Arnaud is 6-10 with five home runs and 10 RBI. Before the Rangers series, Travis batted .200 with nine hits (five doubles), four RBI, three doubles, and 11 strikeouts. His average is now .273 with five homers, 14 RBI, and a .981 OPS.
Travis is now just one home run away from becoming the sixth catcher in Braves history with 50 home runs or more. This list includes Brian McCann, Javy Lopez, Earl Williams, Joe Torre, and Ozzie Virgil.
He and Chadwick Tromp have done a great job holding things down while Sean Murphy recovers from an oblique injury. However, no one expected d'Arnaud to explode like he has offensively.
Ronald Acuña Jr. makes history for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta's superstar outfielder, Ronald Acuña Jr., is no stranger to making history. He just accomplished the first 40 homer and 70 stolen base season in MLB history. Acuña also broke the record for most stolen bases in a season by a Brave with 73. Otis Nixon previously held that record with 72 in a single-season.
However, with Acuña's 10th stolen base of the season on Monday night, he set more Atlanta Braves history. It was his 190th career stolen base, surpassing Rafael Furcal for the most stolen bases in Atlanta history specifically. The best part is that he didn't even realize he had achieved this feat.
"I didn't know I was on the brink to be honest. I think it is better this way, I didn't even know what happened."
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) April 23, 2024
Ronald Acuña Jr. on breaking Atlanta-era record for career stolen bases⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tSisEwsRBR
The franchise record is 433 held by Herman Long who was with the Braves when they were the Boston Beaneaters. Acuña likely will achieve that in his career but the question will be if he remains with the Braves his entire career.
Hank Aaron stole 240 bases during his time with the Braves and Ronald has the chance to surpass Hank in 2024 if he has another season like he did last year. This won't be the last we hear of Ronald setting records.
A.J. Minter holds record for Braves relievers
The Braves bullpen has been doing a great job so far in 2024 when their names are called. A.J. Minter has been a huge part of the bullpen's success over the last few years and he was rewarded for that impressive performance on Monday night.
Minter recorded his108th hold against the Miami Marlins and that is the most by an Atlanta Braves reliever since 1986.
Mint’s made history 🙌#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/dCaYtHEEsc
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 23, 2024
Minter has persevered through some tough stretches but has landed as one of the most dependable Braves relief pitchers. He was often considered the next Craig Kimbrel as he had a similar pre-pitch routine to the former Atlanta closer.
He currently holds a 1.64 ERA through 11 innings pitched in 2024 with 13 strikeouts. In his career, Minter has a 3.29 ERA over 325.1 innings with 35 saves, 108 holds, 112 walks, and 400 strikeouts.
News from around MLB: Embarrassing ejection adds fuel to frustration with umpires
It's no secret fans have been upset with how bad the umpiring has been across Major League Baseball. The strike zones have been incredibly inconsistent and then there are moments like what happened during the Yankees and Athletic's game on Monday afternoon.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was upset after being ejected from the game for not saying anything. Boone had been in a tiff with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstadt after he believed a batter wasn't hit with a pitch. The review indicated the batter was hit by the pitch and after being warned that another word would warrant an ejection, Boone quieted himself.
"I don't care who said it. You're gone!"
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 22, 2024
Not usually how that works but at least we got an awesome hot mic situation out of this Aaron Boone ejection pic.twitter.com/EX2xUsjtKA
However, Wendelstadt turned to the New York dugout just seconds later and ejected Boone. The Yankees manager pleaded with the umpire and said he didn't say anything. Hunter responded with "I don't care who said it, you're gone," as if that made it any better. It did provide fans with a great hot mic moment where you could hear every word clearly.
Boone was unable to convince the umpire that what he heard didn't come from him but from a fan in the crowd. It's becoming a bit ridiculous with the umpires around the league as fans have had plenty to complain about.