The Daily Chop: Win over Twins, Austin Riley, Bench roles, and more

Ronald Acuna continues to sizzle for the Braves, homering for third consecutive game on Monday. This also marked three homers in eight at-bats for Acuna dating back to Saturday, meaning the Atlanta leadoff man is heating up at the perfect time.

One debate that has raged this offseason has been the comparison between Acuna, Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis, Jr. Any of those three players would be an outstanding building block for the future, and the Braves are obviously thrilled to have Acuna. Following his outstanding 2019 campaign, in which Acuna flirted with 40-40, there is once again talk that the phenom could approach those milestones again.

Braves News

Acuna homers in third straight spring game as Braves thump Twins 5-1

In addition to another homer from Acuna, the Braves got some timely hitting from the rest of the lineup to push across five runs. Bryse Wilson started the game and pitched well, along with the entire Atlanta staff that pitched on Monday.

Austin Riley cleared COVID protocols, set to return to lineup Wednesday

Riley was abruptly scratched from the lineup on Monday, which led to some speculation before the club announced that their young third basemen had passed COVID protocols and would return on Wednesday.

Battles abound for roles on Braves’ bench

Mark Bowman examines the status of bench options with two weeks remaining in Spring Training.

MLB News

Soto’s projections will blow your mind

Juan Soto is nearly impossible to dislike, even as a Braves fan.

Pitcher yields 2 Ohtani HRs, becomes a fan

Ohtani is ridiculous.

Who will swipe the 2021 stolen-base crowns?

Who will take the SB titles in 2021?