Ronald Acuña Jr. finally got some things to go his way in the Atlanta Braves‘ 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday evening. Atlanta has won eight straight games and has opened up a very comfortable lead in the NL East.
Next up on the Braves’ schedule is a matchup with the New York Yankees (on the road). In the series finale against the Marlins, Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs, with the first one needing some help getting over the LF wall by two Miami outfielders.
However, they all count the same in the scorebook, and perhaps the two-homer performance will get Ronald going. Following the Marlins series, manager Walt Weiss spoke about Ronald’s home runs and what he has liked about his approach lately.
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Manager Walt Weiss Comments on Ronald Acuña Jr.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 06: Lane Thomas #20 of the Atlanta Braves (left), Michael Harris II #23, Jim Jarvis #74, Ronald Acuna Jr. #13, and Mauricio Dubón #14 celebrate after winning a game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
Here are the comments manager Walt Weiss made about Ronald’s home runs on Thursday evening:
“Yeah, he got a little help there [on the first one], said Walt Weiss. “But swinging the bat good, he’s hit some balls hard. You know, the second homer, it didn’t go all that far, but he’s got that ability to go opposite field, and even when he doesn’t click it real good, it can still go. He went to the short part of the park I understand, but I mean it was high; his opposite-field power is insane. So, even when he doesn’t get it all, he still hits it out.”
Walt Weiss makes a lot of good statements in this quote, as Ronald Acuña Jr. does display some of the best opposite-field power in all of baseball. He’s the type of hitter that when a sky-scraping ball comes off his bat, you think ‘no way’ that can leave [the yard], and it somehow still does.
Here is that second home run by Ronald Acuña Jr. on Thursday night:
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Looking at Ronald Acuña Jr’s Season Thus Far
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA РAUGUST 02: Ronald Acu̱a Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after striking out in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on August 02, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 2026 season has been a little bit affected by two different injured list stints, but there’s no denying that this Atlanta Braves lineup performs much better when he is in the lineup, and while his season isn’t as productive as some monster seasons he’s had in years past, you can feel Ronald’s effect on the team on a nightly basis.
Across 234 ABs this season, Ronald Acuña Jr. has 11 home runs, 39 runs scored, 27 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and an OPS+ of 119.
His career OPS+ is 140, and Ronald is a 5X MLB All-Star, former NL MVP winner, and 3X Silver Slugger outfielder.
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