As professional baseball journalist, it is quite surprising to see some of the recent MVPs struggling at the start of the 2024 season. This includes Ronald Acuña Jr., who had an incredible season last year but has not been able to replicate that success so far this year. Along with a few other key players on the team, Acuña’s performance has dipped, causing the team to slide out of first place in the NL East after more than a year.
In 2023, Acuña made history by hitting over 40 home runs and stealing over 70 bases, a feat never accomplished before. His outstanding performance earned him the NL MVP award unanimously. However, this year, Acuña has struggled to find his rhythm, hitting just .267 with limited power numbers compared to last season.
There have been concerns about Acuña’s health, especially after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired knee during spring training. While the exact reason for his struggles is unclear, his performance metrics show a significant decline in contact and power. Notably, he is missing more pitches and struggling against four-seam fastballs compared to the previous season.
Acuña’s performance against high pitches, particularly four-seam fastballs, has taken a hit this year. Pitchers seem to have caught on to this weakness, as they are throwing a higher percentage of fastballs in that area. This has resulted in a spike in his whiff rate and a decrease in quality of contact.
Overall, Acuña’s performance has not been up to his usual standards this season, raising questions about his health and adjustments needed to bounce back. As a key player for the team, his struggles have had a significant impact on their overall performance in the league.
