We’ve seen two of the brightest young offensive stars in baseball emerge in the National League East over the past couple years. The Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Nationals’ Juan Soto have been enormously successful since they made their debuts in 2018, and the outfielders have played important roles in helping lead their clubs to prominence. The Braves have taken the division in each of Acuna’s two seasons, while Soto was among the reasons the Nationals won their first-ever World Series last fall. The two look as if they’ll be franchise cornerstones for the long haul, but if you can only have one, which player would you pick?
Going by production, there hasn’t been a huge difference in their careers so far. The 22-year-old Acuna’s a 9.3-fWAR player through his first 1,202 plate appearances and a .285/.365/.532 hitter with 67 home runs, 53 stolen bases and an excellent wRC+ of 133. The righty masher fell just shy of a 40/40 effort in 2019, when he smacked 41 dingers and swiped an NL-high 37 bags. Furthermore, Acuna has fared respectably as a defender thus far – including as the Braves’ primary center fielder last year – with 16 DRS and a minus-0.6 UZR to this point.
By measure of wRC+, Soto has been an even more effective hitter than Acuna. Soto, who only became old enough to legally drink as last year’s World Series was going on, owns a jaw-dropping 143 mark in that category. The lefty swinger’s a .287/.403/.535 batter with 56 homers and 8.5 fWAR through 1,153 PA, though he doesn’t come close to Acuna in terms of stolen bases (17). Acuna’s overall defensive output has also been better, but Soto did make strides in that area last season. After putting up minus-6 DRS and minus-4.2 UZR as a rookie in left field, he improved to zero and minus-0.7 in those categories as a sophomore.
The overall numbers Acuna and Soto have managed at such young ages have been astounding. But you can’t just consider production when comparing the two. One of the key facts about Acuna is that his team has already locked him up for the foreseeable future, as the Braves extended him to an eight-year, $100MM guarantee after his first season. With $17MM club options for 2027 and ’28, the deal could keep Acuna in place for almost the whole decade. That’s a lengthy commitment and a lot of money, but it has nonetheless always come off as a no-brainer move from Atlanta’s perspective.
The Nationals would surely love to sign Soto to a similar pact, but it’s hard to believe they’ll get him on such a team-friendly deal. At the very least, though, they do still have the right to control the Scott Boras client for the next half-decade, including one more pre-arbitration year if a season does take place in 2020.
The bottom line is that you can’t lose with either of these players, no doubt two of the greatest assets in the sport. But you’re only allowed to build around one of them, so take your pick…
(Poll link for app users)
That’s a tough one. Soto definitley has the bat, but Acuna definitley has the base running and speed. Acuna also has a slight advantage in fielding, but it’s not like Soto is Rhys Hoskins in left field. He is roughly average. Pretty much comes down to how much defense you’re willing to sacrifice for better base running.
Acuña for sure, he’s definitely more fun to watch all around and he’s locked in long term on a team friendly deal. Acuña is the better all around player but I do think Soto’s skill set will age better and he will have the longer, more consistent career. On-base skills like that don’t come around often, if he ever becomes a liability on the grass, his bat will play easily at first base or DH.
I’ll take the “Soto Shuffle” any old day
I think that Soto provides more offensive value overall. One thing is certain neither is ‘for sure’.
It’s interesting that Acuna has only 0.1 better total oWAR in 49 more PAs for his career than Soto. Both have pretty much been stellar since Day 1, though Acuna has gone through more skids but also different spots in the batting order. Will be interesting to see a full Year 2 from both of these. Would love to see 7-WAR seasons from both.
I hate WAR
Not surprised.
Good point about the lead-off situation. For his brief career in the lead-off spot in the line-up (858 PA;s), Acuna has a .297/.380/.565 slash. Apparently, being in that spot makes him more comfortable and productive.
Juan Dodo
You forgot someone and his name is Bryce Harper! He’s only 27!
Both of these guys are far better than Harper and at like 1/30th the cost! lol
Juan Soto takes the field and Nats fans be like….Bryce who?!
Kinda funny tbh
Juan Soto is better. He has INSANE eye discipline.
I’m a Braves fan, so I’m partial to Acuña, Jr. I also recognize that the talent gap is closer than what I probably care to admit, haha. They’re both remarkable talents that will probably be a strong rivalry similar to what people thought Trout/Harper may have been in 2012.
Soto is probably the smarter hitter of the two as Acuña has some swing-and-miss in his game that could haunt him in his 30’s or if he suffers the wrong kid of injury. Again, I’m partial but I’d take the upside and all-around talent that Acuna is over Soto.
That being said, you gotta kiss the ring when you talk about Soto. Acuna doesn’t have the ring yet.
Nats were a better team so the ring isn’t a fair argument. However Acuna need to write “I will hustle in the playoffs” 500 times on a chalkboard.
A lot easier to do when he was one of only 3 Braves hitting in the playoffs. Freeman (with injury) and Donaldson were horrid while the kids (Acuna, Albies, Swanson) were the only ones hitting regularly.
Acuna and Albies were together, I think they had Swanson buried deep in the lineup so it was mismatched at the time. They basically had to turn everything over to those three and hope.
Why am I not surprised your making excuse for him. Its the playoffs. You gotta run.
Can’t forget Duvall coming up big off the bench in that series either. The 2019 postseason hurts because we had the Cardinals dead in the water.
Gotta remember the Braves had the Nationals number. I don’t believe Atlanta lost a series to Washington all year and had won five of seven in September. Had we handled our business, I’m very confident we’d have beaten the Nats in the NLCS.
Of course, if we were good at handling our business we’ve had won it all in 1996, at least one playoff series since 2001, and not collapsed in 2011.
I’m also confident in any other scenario, WSH wouldn’t have had the same luck with a putrid bullpen all year. Getting Doolittle and Daniel Hudson on a hot streak tells me that they were destined to win it that way. Every champion needs to have a couple of postseason stars ascend from mediocrity. Remember Mark Lemke, The Lemmer? He still can get a free drink anywhere in ATL from his postseason zone he was in.
Why dont you check doolittle’s game logs. Either way, DC had the best team in baseball in 2019.
Everyone seems to dismiss the Nats as a fluke because they were a wild card team. They had an amazing season and were the best team from June and on.
This is a really tough call… Acuna seems to have a little bit more power and obviously far superior speed/baserunning ability. But Soto has a significant edge in plate discipline. Really either one is a good choice but I went with Acuna because of the potential 40/40 (or who knows even 50/50!? someday) and fielding advantage. But if Soto adds a little bit more pop to his bat and matures a little defensively his patience at the plate could push him over the top too. Really tough call — both are amazing young players!
There’s only JUAN Soto.
Love the phonetic pun
Almost as good as hooked on Monkey Phonics [SP reference] lol
Surprised the numbers are so tilted but their has always been a strong Braves base on this site-
Gimme Soto by a nose, his floor is just so damn high and I think his game has a longer shelf life but boy I do luv some Cuna
My exact thoughts. Both are great, but Soto’s offensive game is already elite. His eye and OBP are just fantastic.
How is Acuña not already elite? Soto has far better discipline, but I think both are at an elite level.
When you consider the contract, which the write specifically inclines everyone to do, it’s not even a close argument. If you were offered both, and you chose Soto over Acura AND his contract, you’d be fired before the ink was dry on the transaction.
Writer*, Acuna*
True, I didnt consider the contract, just a heads up yes in that case its Cuna by a mile
I think both fan bases are extremely happy with who they have and wouldnt give up their guy.
Soto easy for me. both great players, imo I like sotos consistency and showed his talent in playoffs , along with not being an issue (ie running on basepaths)
The fact that you say “easy” tells me you aren’t to be taken seriously.
technically he said “easy for me”
And I said “you” aren’t to be taken seriously.
Poll results show Acuna is heavily favored, 70% to Soto’s 30%. Guess it’s not so close after all.
Acuna 100%. Look at that contract!
Exactly
run the poll again in two years when both players are more developed and I think Soto closes the gap. He is the better fundamental players though with slightly less range on D.
His more consistent performance and better intangibles bose well for him moving forward
That is not to say Ronald is significantly less effective or productive. They are not exactly the same kind of players. This means it just comes down to the kind of player you like to root for.
Closes the gap? Soto isn’t going to suddenly start running faster and swipe a bunch of bags. How many 40/40 players have there been? Acuna could go 50/50.
Alex Rodriguez could have gone 50/50 too but there is a reason it hasn’t happened yet. To go 50/50 [irregardless of the power required], you still have to get on base enough times to steal those bases. in addition those opportunities are most common with the walk or single. 50 Stolen bases is rare enough, but from a power hitting OF who’s main job is going to be extra base hits and Homers… well you can count the number of them in baseball history on one hand without the thumb
As I said different players who’s paths will diverge as time goes on. I like Soto better because I believe him to be a better player across the whole makeup
Acuna hits leadoff. I’ll take the guy with the better overall game, than the one-dimensional guy.
Give me the guy who has the ability to go 50/50, a feat never accomplished before.
right! I see Acuna ceiling being Ricky Henderson levels with even more power….Soto is a beast too tho
Acuna all day. speed sets them appart
Not when you take hitting for contact and not striking out
Players are mainly graded on 5 tools.
Speed:. Acuna-70 Soto-50
Arm:. Acuna-60 Soto-50
Field:. Acuna-70 Soto-60
Lifetime BA: Acuna-.285 Soto-.287
Lifetime OBP: Acuna-.365 Soto-.403
HR last year: Acuna-41 Soto-34
SB last year: Acuna-37 Soto-12
Acuna has anywhere from noticeable to huge advantages in every category except BA and OBP.
I would personally take the player who is a full grade better in the field and with his arm and the extra 7-HR and 25-SB over the one who gives me an extra .038-OBP and .002-BA.
Victor Robles plays a better CF than Acuna, so there’s that.
But Acuna will not be playing CF…he’s a corner OFer with Inciarte manning CF currently, and Pache/Waters coming up the pipeline in the next season or two.
Soto has a very slight lead as a hitter (mainly plate disciple), but Acuna is the better athlete and overall player. Give me Acuna over Soto now and going forward..
I have no doubt Acuna would have fared equally well in the NLCS and WS if roles were reversed in 2019 playoffs.
Acuna and Albies were the offense during the nlds against the cardinals. The series was basically hoping the braves could turn the lineup around to get them up there.
Acuna because he signed a dirt cheap contract.
Best contract in baseball at the moment. Good luck getting Soto to agree to anything close to that now.
Albies disagrees with your line about best contract
134 mil as a rookie. PFG i’d say.
Soto 2019
542 ABs 110 -R, 34-HR,, 110RBIs .282/.401/.548 32-2B, 5-3B, 132: 108 (1.22) K:BB ratio, 12-SB
Acuna 2019
626 ABs (+84 over Soto) 127-R, 41-HRs,101RBIs 22-2B 2-3B, 188:76 (2.47) K:BB Ratio 37-SB
THere are the actual numbers from last season.
On runs HR RBIs 2B and 3B per AB Soto comes out ahead in more cats than not and leads several with 80+ les ABs. Going to the ratios listed above the difference is a little more stark. Like wise in the other direction with Steals
Also, one guys hits leadoff, one guy hits 3rd or cleanup. Why give a triple slash for one and not the other?
My apologies I thought I had put it in their Acuna should have read:
Acuna 2019
626 ABs (+84 over Soto) 127-R, 41-HRs,101RBIs .280.365/.518 22-2B 2-3B, 188:76 (2.47) K:BB Ratio 37-SB
and
Soto 2019
542 ABs 110 -R, 34-HR,, 110RBIs .282/.401/.548 32-2B, 5-3B, 132: 108 (1.22) K:BB ratio, 12-SB
And lol at saying Soto comes out ahead in things like 2Bs. Yeah, because more of Acuna’s go over the fence.
XBH
Soto 61
Acuna 63
pretty much a dead heat until you consider 86 less ABs for Soto
I did say production per AB
I remember a few years ago when both were in the minors everyone thought it would be Acuna and Victor Robles.
Two great players. Soto will get pushed back off the plate some which will hurt coverage of the slider. Acuna needs to develop more plate discipline.
Soto’s the better pure hitter, Acuna’s the better player. Soto may never graduate from left field, while Acuña can already play above average defense at all three OF positions. Add the speed and the contract, and Acuña’s the choice.
You all will probably call BS on this comment, but my first cousin is a current MLB player and said that it is known around the league that Soto is on the sauce. That new juice that beats testing 4 hours after taking it. Was told this by another Dominican baseball player last season…
Peds won’t make him lay off bad pitches, unless it’s made from carrot juice.
@bhambrave – PEDs sure help with other attributes. But, what I think you’re trying to say, he is still a talented player. From what I was told, in the DR scouts see the best of the best and start feeding them with PEDs so the talent was there.
@LH – There is literally no way for me to factually prove my evidence to you so it is hard to debate and I won’t waste my time. Carry on.
No offense, but your reply was a waste of time.
*As he replies back* Enjoy being ignorant and arrogant on a a pouty neckbeard message board bud!
Who’s the one getting his knickers in a twist?
Not wearing knickers… want to see? 😉
You’re right. That’s total BS.
Who else?
Soto was the only one he really harped on. Got a lot of interesting takes on the 2017 Astros – one interesting point was how his team won the World Series at one point in his career. He mentioned how some of the trainers were now able to buy a house, mentioned how the Astros stole that from clubhouse guys with that similar stories.
Give me the Pujols guy ( Soto) over the free swinger without the strikes out Vladimir Guerrero Aka Acuña
Both are truly great. Acuna is a better all-around player, but Soto is excellent too, in different ways and I think he has even more power coming. Soto also rises to the occasion under the bright lights. At the moment, Acuna has the edge, but you really can’t go wrong with either player.
They are both amazing and the class of MLBs young super stars. Acuna probably has the edge at the moment, but I like Soto’s skills holding up over the long term. All players slow down. and unless Acuna figures out how to cut down on his strikeouts, he’ll be destined for the land of 3-true outcomes (which isn’t a terrible thing). They are going to be really fun to watch over the next decade. . .
Acuña
Acuna personality after reading a post saying “ Marino Rivera isn’t a hall of famer” shows his respect to players before him as an idiot. But acuna is the better player so far.
Consider:
A player who steals bases has a value pro[proportional to his OBP
A Player who hits for power has a value proportional to his OPS
To a large degree this comparison is Apples and Oranges but I see many looking at 40+ Homers and thinking that makes the better player. But if you want to compare the speed contribution at the plate, Consider that Acuna was 37 out of 46 in Stolen Bases, a % of .80.4
Soto was 12 for 13 (92.3%) One could make the case that Soto was the better base runner by the SB%.
I am not saying Acuna or Soto are at their peak potential. Both will improve moving forward. but I don’t buy the argument that more Gross Stolen bases makes Acuna batter when his % is 12 points less and his OBP is so much lower
80% stolen base rate while leading the league, and .365 OBP while hitting 40+ homers are both outstanding and show versatility. His speed also translates to the outfield and impacts his defensive value, which you failed to comment on. 12/13 means Soto chose his spots wisely, but doesn’t really indicate anything else noteworthy. Freddie Freeman went 10/13 in 2018.