Ronald Acuna keeps climbing.
The Atlanta Braves promoted the 19-year-old outfield prospect to Triple-A Gwinnett days after he slashed .313/.361/.506 with nine home runs for Double-A Mississippi as one of the youngest players in the Southern League. Now, the five-tool Venezuelan product will be the youngest player in the International League – and just one step away from making his major-league debut.
Acuna’s climb up prospect rankings industry-wide — he is ranked 9th-best overall by ESPN and 11th-best by Baseball Prospectus in their latest midseason rankings — coincides with his impressive showings against various levels of competition over the past year, from the minor-league ranks to the Australian League this winter to spring training.