Ronald Acuña Jr. has been on my radar for much of the season. This is the week Atlanta's likely National League Rookie of the Year is finally my MLBoyfriend.
Acuña had eleven runs, four home runs, nine RBIs, three stolen base, a .464 average, and 1.523 OPS last week. He had an amazing home run streak that ended on Tuesday, August 14. He hit homers in five consecutive game and--even more impressively--he hit lead-off home runs in three consecutive games. Speaking of his Rookie of the Year possibilities, at the age of just 20, Acuña is the youngest player to hit home runs in five consecutive games in over a hundred years and the youngest ever to hit three lead-off home runs.
This streak ended in the worst possible way from any baseball fans perspective. On Wednesday, August 15, Acuña was hit by the very first pitch of the game. There's little doubt that the opposing pitcher, Jose Ureña of the Miami Marlins, intentionally beaned Acuña with a 97.5 mph fastball.
Fortunately and somewhat amazingly, Acuña was not seriously injured. The incident only reflects well on him as he was literally the only player from either team who didn't rush the mound. Ureña was suspended for a measly six games. He and his manager, Don Mattingly, who has been defending him should have received much stiffer punishments. (FWIW, the odious Keith Hernandez need to STFU about the whole matter too.) Thankfully, Acuña was able to return to play the next day and ended the week strong.
As if being a great player wasn't enough, Acuña regularly engages in one of my favorite classic baseball activities: blowing bubble gum bubbles on the field.
Congratulations, Ronald Acuña Jr., you are my MLBofriend of the week! I'm sure we'll see you again--certainly in the annual MLBoyfriend awards wrap-up this season.
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