{"id":75699,"date":"2025-07-19T15:31:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T15:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/75699\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T15:31:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T15:31:09","slug":"ronald-acuna-jr-s-jaw-dropping-double-play-throw-channels-roberto-clemente","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/75699\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.\u2019s jaw-dropping double play throw channels \u2018Roberto Clemente\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATLANTA \u2014 Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. had a triple and a double Friday, but everyone was talking afterward about his spectacular defensive play to end the third inning.<\/p>\n

With one out and two on, Cody Bellinger hit a fly ball to the right-field corner. Acu\u00f1a made what looked like a casual catch, then stunned the Yankees\u2019 Jorbit Vivas and everyone else at Truist Park by turning and firing a perfect, flat-footed throw that reached Alvarez on the fly. He tagged Vivas for the inning-ending double play.<\/p>\n

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.@ronaldacunajr24<\/a> with a perfect throw! \ud83e\udd76#BravesCountry<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OGA48k4Nnl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThat was like a Roberto Clemente throw,\u201d manager Brian Snitker said. \u201cThat was big, too. Spencer (Strider) was working his tail off the whole game, so any help he could get like that was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a said through an interpreter: \u201cI think I just always try to anticipate those plays. That\u2019s really what I always try to focus on is just anticipating the play before it happens. I wasn\u2019t really trying to do anything besides that. I was just trying to get ready, and thankfully, I have a good arm and I have confidence in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did it rank among the best throws Snitker ever saw?<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. His accuracy is stupid,\u201d he said. \u201cI remember when he was a kid and he would come with us on (spring training) trips. And I remember (Terry Pendleton) and I were sitting in Jupiter one day, and he made a play down the line there and threw somebody out at second. And I asked T.P., \u2018Who is that?\u2019 And it was Ronald.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said for a long time that he\u2019s a weapon in right field. His arm is so strong and accurate. The ball carries, his release is good. He\u2019s special out there. He\u2019s a weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The play caught both Strider and Alvarez off guard. Alvarez said he wasn\u2019t deking the runner, he just didn\u2019t expect Acu\u00f1a to throw to third. Strider wasn\u2019t backing up the play because he thought the ball was going foul and was asking for a new ball from the umpire when Acu\u00f1a made the play.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s a good thing that the ball didn\u2019t get away at third,\u201d Strider said. \u201cBecause I wouldn\u2019t have been nowhere near where I needed to be. He\u2019s a baseball player and a good actor, too. That was a great deke.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strider said he realized the play was live when he saw everyone turn their heads to third base on the throw. He was relieved the throw was spot-on accurate.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said, I was asking for a ball from the umpire,\u201d he said. \u201cI was not where I needed to be, so that\u2019s honestly on me. Big screw up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if it was one of the best throws he\u2019s ever made, Acu\u00f1a said, \u201cI would say so, one of the best in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin Riley details injury as he takes batting practice<\/p>\n

Austin Riley taking batting practice Friday was a welcome sight for the Atlanta Braves, who hope to have the third baseman back from the 10-day injury list next week.<\/p>\n

He got hurt in Friday\u2019s game in St. Louis while making a throw on a bunt play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure (when I\u2019ll be activated), but I\u2019m on day seven of this thing and I feel like I\u2019ve taken big strides,\u201d Riley said. \u201cSwung a little bit in the cage today, did some (infield) drills with Walt (Weiss). I feel good. Knowing me, I\u2019m gonna do everything to get back as quick as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said this injury is less serious than his strained midsection in May 2024, which caused Riley to miss 14 games and affected his power for a couple of weeks after returning.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely (not as bad),\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a different area. It\u2019s the lower abdomen. Last year was the oblique. But I definitely don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s anywhere to what that was last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

While home in Mississippi for the All-Star Break, Riley had daily physical therapy sessions in nearby Memphis.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s still trying to figure out how he got hurt making a routine cross-body throw after charging in and fielding the ball bare-handed. He felt it when he made the throw on the bunt from the St. Louis Cardinals\u2019 Yohel Pozo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt it there,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then (Willson) Contreras hit one, I think an inning later, and it grabbed on me there. I\u2019m a little confused on how it happened. I prepare really well before the games and make sure that my body\u2019s ready. I felt like I checked all the boxes that I need to get ready for the game. Not sure how it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr. has played strong defense while filling in, including a terrific play in the ninth inning of Friday\u2019s 7-3 win over the New York Yankees when he sprinted back in foul territory and caught Austin Wells\u2019 pop-up before tumbling over the tarp and wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a great play by Nacho,\u201d Braves starter Spencer Strider said. \u201cJust tracking the ball. And obviously, there\u2019s some hazards down there. Very selfless and athletic play.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Alvarez has hit .122 with no extra-base hits, one walk and 12 strikeouts in 11 major-league games, including eight last season in his first big-league stint.<\/p>\n

Profar leads off, Acu\u00f1a third again<\/p>\n

Get used to Jurickson Profar batting leadoff and Acu\u00f1a hitting third, as long as it produces the kind of results it has in the past three games.<\/p>\n

Profar had a single and a walk in the first two innings Friday after going 4-for-10 in the last two games before the break. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, he had a .346 average and .925 OPS in 27 games batting leadoff with the San Diego Padres and the Braves. Until Friday.<\/p>\n

In what seemed almost unimaginable \u2014 that Snitker would bat Acu\u00f1a anywhere but leadoff \u2014 the superstar is looking comfortable after the first three games of his career batting third. He\u2019s getting a lot more plate appearances with runners in scoring position, a big reason for the move.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for the first time I finally feel like a power hitter,\u201d Acu\u00f1a said, smiling. \u201cBut I think once Riley\u2019s back, he\u2019ll probably resume his post.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snitker wasn\u2019t as certain about that when he heard Acu\u00f1a\u2019s comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about that,\u201d he said. \u201cI kind of like (Acu\u00f1a) there. I like that top three right there, I think that\u2019s pretty good. I\u2019ve always envisioned him being that guy. We\u2019ll see, but I don\u2019t think Austin\u2019s gonna care where he hits either.\u201d<\/p>\n

On whether he has thought about lengthening the lineup with Riley batting lower in the order, Snitker said, \u201cAbsolutely. When you put Austin, wherever down there, it lengthens it really good. I like it. I like Profar leading off. He had a really good year last year leading off. I kind of like the flow of what that does right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baldwin, Murphy in lineup again<\/p>\n

In a similar vein, Snitker plans to continue having catchers Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in the lineup together, one in the DH role, for as long as they continue hitting. Both had hits to start the fourth inning before Ozzie Albies\u2019 homer, which is what Snitker likes about both hot-hitting catchers being in the lineup together.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d Snitker said. \u201cThose guys have been having really good at-bats, both of them. If you do good and you produce, you\u2019re gonna play. And I think we can keep both of their bats in the lineup and not wear either one of them out catching. It could be a nice little tandem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daily DH duties were Marcell Ozuna\u2019s alone for more than two seasons, but even though he was the second-best DH in baseball over the past two seasons and into the early part of this season, he\u2019s been in a slump since late May, batting .187 with four homers and a .586 OPS in his past 38 games.<\/p>\n

Ozuna does have two homers in his past four starts, potentially drawing trade interest if the Braves decide to move the pending free agent before the July 31 deadline. However, as a 10-and-5 player (10 years of service, five with current team), Ozuna has trade veto rights.<\/p>\n

Baldwin\u2019s .830 OPS was the fifth-highest by any rookie catcher in 50 seasons at the All-Star break. His and Murphy\u2019s combined 24 home runs were the second-most by any team\u2019s catchers at the break, trailing the Seattle Mariners (33) and Cal Raleigh\u2019s historic season.<\/p>\n

Murphy had seven homers in his past 12 games (11 starts) before Friday, when he drew a first-inning walk and hit a third-inning double in front of Albies\u2019 homer.<\/p>\n

(Photo of Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.: Kathryn Skeean \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n