Fantasy Baseball: 5 Rookies to Watch in 2018
Ronald Acuna, Atlanta Braves (OF)
Acuna is baseball's top prospect according to Baseball America and ESPN's Keith Law, while he's second on MLB Pipeline's Top 100, trailing behind the player you will read about next on this list.
It's easy to see why. As a 19-year-old last season, he moved up three levels to reach AAA before the offseason arrived. And the thing is, he got better at every level.
He hit .287/.336/.478 with a weighted runs created (wRC+) of 139 in 28 A-ball games. He then hit .326/.374/.520 with a 159 wRC+ in 57 AA games before slashing .344/.393/.548 with a 162 wRC+ in 54 AAA games. He also hit 21 home runs across those three levels while stealing 34 bases, showing tremendous plate discipline and incredible maturity for a teenager, along with providing both contact ability and power at the plate.
Acuna is a true five-tool player and will likely be a favorite for NL Rookie of the Year honors. It's going to be hard for the Atlanta Braves to keep him out of the every-day lineup in 2018 if he has a good spring training.
