Braves promoting top outfield prospect Acuna from Triple-A
By Associated Press
Apr 25, 2018 1:55 AM CDT
FILE - In this Friday, March 2, 2018, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna watches after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball spring exhibition game against the New York Yankees, in Tampa, Fla. Top outfield prospect Acuna is set to join the Atlanta Braves, who said they...   (Associated Press)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Top outfield prospect Ronald Acuna is set to join the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves planned to promote the 20-year-old from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday to join them in Cincinnati.

Acuna rose from Class A to Triple-A in 2017, hitting a combined .325 with 21 home runs, 82 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. Then he was selected MVP of the Arizona Fall League. He began this season as MLB.com's No. 2 overall prospect behind Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani.

Acuna teased Braves fans with a monster spring training, batting .432 with four homers, four stolen bases and a 1.247 OPS in 16 games.

At Triple-A this month, Acuna was off to a slow start, hitting .232 with one homer and two RBIs in 69 at-bats.

By delaying his promotion a few weeks past opening day, the Braves pushed back Acuna's free-agent eligibility until after the 2024 season.

Acuna and 21-year-old second baseman Ozzie Albies will give Atlanta the two youngest players in the majors.

___

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball