Attention all pitchers: Acu?a teeing off left-handed

No matter the pitch or the pitcher, Ronald Acuña Jr. was a terror in the batter’s box in 2023.

He had a slugging percentage of .500 or better against eight pitch types. He batted .343 against right-handers and .315 against left-handers. Arguably the only thing that would make the 2023 National League MVP scarier at the plate is if he became a switch-hitter.

Well, about that …

Acu?a recently posted a video on his Instagram page of him taking some swings in the left-handed box -- and absolutely teeing off. The Braves superstar let loose some jubilant screams as he launched balls out to right field.

This isn’t the first time Acu?a has flirted with batting lefty. He tried it prior to the ‘23 season and attempted to do it during a regular-season game in 2021. But once manager Brian Snitker saw Acu?a wearing a left-handed batting helmet in the on-deck circle, he called him back to the dugout, waving his finger in disapproval.

“I told him I’ve got three grandkids I’ve got to put through college,” Snitker said after the game.

There haven’t been many switch-hitting MVPs in baseball history; the most recent is the Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins, in 2007. Acu?a likely won’t break that drought, but the thought of it being a possibility is incredibly fun.