MLB Generation Next (Part 3)
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Club: Atlanta Braves
Position: Outfield
Age: 23
Verdict: Buy
Acuna Jr. experienced a dream start to his Major League career. After winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, he followed up in 2019 by making the All-Star team and finishing fifth in the MVP voting. This season he was again selected as an All-Star, hit 24 home runs, and batted .282 before tearing the ACL in his right knee on July 10th. While this injury is devastating for the Braves and all baseball fans, it may represent an opportunity to buy in on Acuna Jr. He is only 23 and under contract with Atlanta until 2028. Athletes recover from ACL tears frequently these days, and the Braves have no reason to rush Acuna Jr. back to the field.
It is interesting that since his injury, Acuna’s cards have declined slightly, but they have not cratered. It seems that most collectors believe that Acuna will make it back to the field and be the dynamic player he was before his ACL tear. I do think that Acuna’s prices will decline more over the next several months. Collectors tend to forget about players who are not on the field. My strategy is to wait until December. If Acuna Jr.’s rehab appears to be moving in a positive direction, I think that will be an excellent time to buy low on his cards.