There is no faster rising prospect in baseball than the Braves very own Ronald Acuña. Signed out of Venezuela for just $100,000 Acuña has seen his stock rise from the Braves #26 prospect in 2015, to the Braves #6 prospect in 2016, to now baseball’s #8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He is a legitimate 5-tool prospect in every sense - hitting 16 homers while collecting 36 stolen bases in 109 games this season. Acuña also plays a premier defensive position and does it quite well - with an excellent first step and route running - and has an absolute cannon of an arm which was shown off at this years Futures game where he was clocked at 96.7 MPH. Acuña also has the Braves organization as a whole two hardest hit balls at 114 MPH and this one - also at the Futures game - at 112.3 MPH.

The Braves have been extremely aggressive with him as we’ve seen him go from rookie ball to AAA in just 206 games. As the competition has gotten stiffer he has become more impressive as he’s gone from a 31% K% in A+ ball with a .191 ISO to an 18.8% K%, 12.1% BB% and .228 ISO in AAA. Through 24 games in AAA the 19 year old is hitting .348/.434/.576 (1.010 OPS) which, if he qualified (2.7PA/game), would put him tops in the International League.

We over here at Talking Chop have always been aggressive with our ranking of Acuña - having him as our #6 prospect as early as mid-season last year. He has an elite arm, elite speed, elite bat speed, fantastic discipline, and plays a fantastic center-field - though he may be pushed to right because the Braves already have one of Baseball’s top defensive center-fielders. Personally, my only reservation about Acuña heading into this season was his ability to hit curveballs as he seemed to struggle a bit with them in 2016 however that was quickly put to bed early in the 2017 season after one game where I watch him lay off three close curves right outside the zone before barreling up a fastball. His awareness of the strike zone, ability to lay off pitches that are close to it, and patience to wait for his pitch is inspiring to watch out of someone that is still a teenager.

With all that said - could we make a case that Ronald Acuña baseball’s top prospect? As of right now he is currently the #8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline with Moncada, Rosario, Torres, Devers, Robles, Guerrero Jr, and Jimenez ranked above him. If they all stay up Moncada, Rosario, and Devers would all graduate from the farm by the end of the season which would then leave the top prospect list as: Torres, Robles, Guerrero Jr., Jimenez, Acuña.

Torres - an elite prospect of his own - will be coming off of Tommy John surgery and it will be seen how his bat will respond to that surgery, though we obviously wish him the best. TJS isn’t as damning to a prospect’s stock if they play in the field as opposed to on the mound, but there is added risk when there is an injury that cost almost an entire season.

Advantage: Acuña

This brings us to Robles who, like Acuña, was a smaller bonus signing ($225,000) and watched his status rocket up following an extremely impressive rookie season stateside (.952 OPS). At 20 years of age what Robles is doing is extremely impressive as he has compiled an .870 OPS through 90 games between two levels (77 at A+, 13 at AA). However, his walk rate hovers around 7%, and his speed hasn’t played up in the stolen base department this season (18 SB, 8 CS). Acuña has played more games at a higher level and has hit for a higher average, OBP, and slugging percentage. Acuña has stolen more bases and has seen his walk rate improve as he moved up levels.

Advantage: Acuña

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the next challenger. A massive bonus ($3.9M) brought Vlad to the Toronto organization this year and it is clear that he can hit. Through 94 games he has an .877 OPS split between two levels (71 at A, 23 at A+) while stealing 23 bases (8 caught stealing/45 speed tool), and hitting 16 home runs. He has incredible plate discipline - 18.8% BB%, 13.9% K% through 23 games in A+, and should add even more power as he gets older. The only unsure thing about his game is where he will play as the Jays currently have him at third but he does not have the range to be a particularly effective third which may cause him to move to either left or first. Acuña’s track record against higher levels of competition and his ability to play a premier defensive position at an elite level gives the nudge to him.

Advantage: Acuña

This leaves Eloy Jimenez as the lone remaining prospect in front of Acuña. Through 64 games Jimenez has torn the cover off the ball compiling a .925 OPS in A+ ball for the Cubs and the White Sox. Eloy also has an impressive approach at the plate, especially for someone with his raw power grade (70), (10% walk rate) and has been incredible since the trade (197 wRC+). There is no doubt about his offensive prowess as it seems like he will hit for both average and power but the question is the position in which he will play. His below average speed makes it seem like left is a good fit for him, where he can be below average and still make up for it with his bat. Once again the overall game of Acuña gives him the edge in this battle.

Advantage: Acuña

It is no insult to have him currently at #8 as the players rated above him, according to Pipeline, are all elite prospects of their own however with his ability to hit for both average and power along with his speed on the basepaths and ability to play an elite defensive positioning you have a strong case for Acuña to be baseball’s top prospect.