\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Marquis Grissom set the Braves' franchise record when he hit seven leadoff homers in 1996. \"[Acuna] has been carrying the team, especially with that first at-bat,\" Braves pitcher Julio Teheran said. \"It's exciting to see him play.\" The Braves have benefited from the decision to move Acuna to the top of their lineup after the All-Star break. The 20-year-old outfielder has enhanced his National League Rookie of the Year credentials while hitting .339 with 13 homers and a 1.164 OPS over the 32 games that have followed. Acuna joins Eddie Mathews (25 in 1952) and Bob Horner (23 in '78) as the only players in Braves franchise history to hit 20 home runs before their 21st birthday.","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/ronald-acuna-jr-hits-20th-home-run-c291485608","contentType":"news","subHeadline":null,"summary":"PITTSBURGH -- Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. resumed his leadoff homer barrage by beginning Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the Pirates with his 20th home run.\"Every time Ronald comes up there, you're expecting something good to happen,\" Braves manager Brian Snitker said. \"It's really been fun to watch.\"","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":"**Mark Bowman** has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.","tags":[{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-660670","title":"Ronald Acuna Jr.","person":{"__ref":"Person:660670"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-archive-element-news-mlb","title":"HBmig MLB News Archive ","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"GameTag","gamePk":531303,"slug":"gamepk-531303","title":"2018/08/22 atl@pit","type":"game"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-144","title":"Atlanta Braves","team":{"__ref":"Team:144"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-144","title":"HBmig 144","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/kuuuvksfstlywvlxtopi","title":"Ronald Acuna Jr. hits 20th home run"}},"Person:660670":{"__typename":"Person","id":660670},"Team:144":{"__typename":"Team","id":144}}}
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Acuna drives No. 20 to lead off vs. Pirates
Acuna drives No. 20 to lead off vs. Pirates
August 22nd, 2018
Mark Bowman
PITTSBURGH -- Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. resumed his leadoff homer barrage by beginning Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the Pirates with his 20th home run. "Every time Ronald comes up there, you're expecting something good to happen," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's really been fun to watch."
Acuna barreled Trevor Williams' changeup over PNC Park's left-center wall to account for his sixth leadoff homer of the season and fourth within a 13-game span dating back to Aug. 11. Houston's George Springer (6) and St. Louis' Matt Carpenter (8) are the only Major Leaguers with at least six leadoff homers.
Most leadoff HRs, 2018
8 - Matt Carpenter (82 G) 6 - Ronald Acuña Jr. (31 G) 6 - George Springer (110 G) 4 players with 5
Marquis Grissom set the Braves' franchise record when he hit seven leadoff homers in 1996. "[Acuna] has been carrying the team, especially with that first at-bat," Braves pitcher Julio Teheran said. "It's exciting to see him play." The Braves have benefited from the decision to move Acuna to the top of their lineup after the All-Star break. The 20-year-old outfielder has enhanced his National League Rookie of the Year credentials while hitting .339 with 13 homers and a 1.164 OPS over the 32 games that have followed. Acuna joins Eddie Mathews (25 in 1952) and Bob Horner (23 in '78) as the only players in Braves franchise history to hit 20 home runs before their 21st birthday.