When the baseball season kicks off, it's easy for fans to get caught up in early stats, especially when they look less than stellar. Take Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, for instance.
Through the opening weekend, he's sporting a .083 batting average. But before you start worrying, let's dive into what's really happening.
First off, we're talking about a tiny sample size here-just 1-for-12 at the plate. That's hardly enough to draw any solid conclusions. But there's more to the story than just those numbers.
Acuna's performance isn't as bleak as it might seem. On Sunday, he sent a ball soaring towards centerfield, a shot that looked destined to clear the fence. It ended up being caught on the track, just shy of a big highlight moment.
Looking at the stats that matter, Acuna is actually hitting the ball with authority. His average exit velocity is clocking in at 92.7 miles per hour, placing him in the 92nd percentile across MLB.
That's some serious power. Additionally, his expected slugging percentage sits at an impressive .535, which lands him in the 95th percentile.
As the season progresses, these advanced metrics are likely to sync up with his traditional stats. Right now, it's just the early randomness of baseball that’s skewing his numbers.
So, for those concerned about Acuna’s start, rest easy. The numbers suggest he's poised for a strong season.