Atlanta Braves Star Ronald Acuña Jr. Makes Stunning Throw Against New York Yankees
In an electrifying moment during the Atlanta Braves’ 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees at Truist Park, superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. showcased his incredible talent with what could be the throw of the year.
As the Braves led 3-0 in the third inning with runners on first and second, Yankees’ slugger Cody Bellinger stepped up to the plate. Bellinger launched a high fly ball down the right field line, putting the pressure on Braves’ starting pitcher Spencer Strider. Acuña, positioned just off the warning track, made a phenomenal catch.
When the runner on second base, Jorbit Vivas, tagged up to advance to third, Acuña responded with an impressive throw that never touched the ground. Utilizing his powerful arm, he fired a laser beam to third base, catching Vivas off guard for the final out of the inning.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that Vivas was "deked" by Braves third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr., who cleverly disguised the impending throw. Vivas, seemingly unaware of the play’s developments, did not slide and appeared bewildered after being tagged out.
Boone reflected on the moment, saying, "That just can’t happen. I did that all my career at third base. Just kind of play dumb, play dead. And that’s what (Vivas) read. The body language of Alvarez there just deked him. He knew it was a deep fly ball, so it caught up to him… It’s a lesson that that can’t happen on a baseball field, especially in that situation." The play was particularly detrimental for the Yankees, as Aaron Judge was on deck and could have potentially tied the game with a swing.
Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Acuña’s throw, stating, "His accuracy is stupid. He’s a weapon in right field. His arm is so strong and accurate, and the ball carries. His release is good. He’s special out there."
Acuña himself attributed the throw to his anticipation of plays. "I always try to anticipate those plays," he shared through an interpreter. "That’s really what I always try to focus on—anticipating the play before it happens. Thankfully, I have a good arm."
As the Braves (43-53) look to build on this impressive win, they will face the Yankees (53-44) again on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET for the second game of their three-game series.
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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.
