It’s only been two hits. Two hits over two days. Can you declare someone back from the dead after two hits, especially in such venues as Fenway Park and Great American Ball Park? But did you see the hits though? Let me help you with that. Here’s Thursday in Boston:
As someone who witnessed the home run last night, this ball was crushed loud and far. You can’t really hear it from the audio here. But along the third base side was a flock of loud Braves fans. Acuña’s home run and the robbed Harris II home run lit up the left side of the stadium.
Here is Ronald’s rolling xwOBA. Where this chart starts to dip is May 19th, the day that Ronald returned from the Injured List with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. Is he feeling better now? Is a month a good recovery time for a guy with some other lower body injuries? During Thursday’s game he acquired a .684 xwOBA. I’m guessing last night would be in that neighborhood as well. Even the grounders were loud, especially the one that De La Cruz required a spin and throw to get Ronald.
So is Ronald Acuña Jr. back now? It sure sounds like it. Literally.
