Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. clinched the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year title on Monday evening. The competition for this honor was closely contested among Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler, Nationals Slugger Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuna Jr. Ultimately, Ronald Acuna Jr. secured the victory with 27 first-place votes. Juan Soto came in second with approximately two first-place votes, while Walker Buehler received just one.
Ronald Acuna Jr. wrapped up his debut major league season with a batting average of around .293 on 127 hits out of 433 at-bats. He also amassed 26 home runs, a .917 OPS, and 16 stolen bases in a total of 111 games played. This performance places him among the elite few in baseball history who have hit 26 home runs in a single season.
In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to God, his family, and all his teammates for their unwavering support since the outset of his journey to the big leagues. He emphasized that this accolade is a testament to the collective effort and dedication of the team throughout the season.
Notably, Ronald Acuna Jr. demonstrated exceptional prowess in the latter half of the season, maintaining a batting average of .322 with 19 home runs and a 1.028 OPS from July 31st to August 15th. During this period, he led the league with nine home runs and a 1.357 OPS, propelling Atlanta from a half-game deficit to a two-game division lead.
