ATLANTA -- Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer could see the tremendous physical potential, and he was well award of the accomplishments that had earned Ronald Acuna Jr. the status of being baseball's top prospect. But Seitzer also knew that the 20-year-old phenom was destined for frequent frustration if he did not make the necessary mechanical adjustments shortly after Braves manager Brian Snitker reached his breaking point just before the All-Star break.
In the midst of occasionally displaying his five-tool talents, Acuna was too frequently taking off-balance swings, chasing fastballs up in the zone and simply going through the growing pains you'd expect from a kid who reached the Majors with less than 600 plate appearances above the Class A Advanced level.