High expectations are set for Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson

As the 2023 Major League Baseball season approaches, there are high expectations for several players on the Atlanta Braves roster. One player in particular, Ronald Acuña Jr., seems poised to have a breakout season.

Acuña had a bit of a down year in 2022, as his recovery from a torn ACL, suffered in 2021, limited him to just 129 games at less than full health. However, he appears to be good to go heading into this season and has been impressing in Spring Training. According to reports, Acuña's power is back and he has been hitting the ball further than ever before. He has even hit several balls out of the Spring Training facility and into the parking lot.

Acuña has set lofty goals for himself this season, aiming to become just the sixth player in history to record a 40-40 season (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases). He came close in 2019, falling just a few steals short - a late-season hamstring injury stood in the way of him landing a few more steals from hitting the mark.

Another player on the Braves roster who has been drawing attention this spring is Matt Olson. The first baseman was acquired in a trade just before the start of the 2022 season and had a solid campaign, hitting 34 home runs despite a lower-than-usual batting average. In spring training, however, he has been on fire, leading many to believe that he could have a career year in 2023.

Several of our writers on the Braves Today roundtable have predicted that Olson will hit 40 home runs this season and return to his career norms with a batting average in the .250-.270 range. If he can do that, he would provide a formidable power threat in the middle of the Braves' lineup and help take some of the pressure off of Acuña.

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