Ronald Acuña Jr. showed flashes of his MVP-caliber form on Saturday night, launching a towering 420-foot solo home run in the third inning of the Gwinnett Stripers’ matchup against the Charlotte Knights. The blast off starter Tyler Schweitzer was a reminder of Acuña’s elite power, and one of the few pitches he actually got to swing at during the game.
Despite Acuña’s big swing, it wasn’t enough to lift the Stripers to a win, as they ultimately fell to the Knights 5–3. Charlotte’s pitching staff carefully navigated around Acuña, issuing him four walks in his five plate appearances and limiting him to just two official at-bats on the night.
The Stripers got on the board early when James McCann drove in Acuña in the first inning. Their only other run came in the ninth, when Knights pitcher Nick Nastrini walked in a run — once again with Acuña playing a central role in the scoring.
On the mound, Gwinnett starter Ian Anderson had a solid outing, allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out eight batters over four innings of work. His performance gave the Stripers a chance, but the offense couldn’t capitalize beyond Acuña’s contributions.
Overall, Acuña’s strong showing was a positive sign for the Braves organization, as the star outfielder continues his rehab stint with Gwinnett. If his swing and presence at the plate are any indication, he may be close to making his return to Atlanta in top form.
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