NEW YORK — On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves will be one of the eight batters vying in the coveted All-Star Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14. This will be Acuña’s third stint in the competitive event, as he makes a much-anticipated return to the derby.
Acuña dramatically rejoined the Braves lineup on May 23 after a brief hiatus due to a torn ACL in his left knee, marked by a home run on the first pitch. Previously, he had faced off against New York Mets’ powerhouse Pete Alonso in 2019, emerging victorious against Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell with a 25-18 score, only to be narrowly defeated by Alonso 20-19 in the semifinals. Acuña returned in 2022 to challenge Alonso again, which ended with a first-round 20-19 loss at Dodger Stadium.
In an interview conducted in Spanish and shared through a translator on ESPN, Acuña expressed his anticipation for the event, stating, “I’m even more excited to be doing it here in Atlanta in front of our fans. I’m excited to do it at home and do it for them … and put on a great show for them.”
The four-time All-Star began the current season with an impressive form, holding a batting average of .385, along with nine home runs and 16 RBIs in 29 games. Acuña was recognized as the 2023 National League MVP, a year in which he tied his personal best by hitting 41 home runs.