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By Andrew Wright
Contributing Sports Writer
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It is no stretch to say that the Atlanta Braves have underachieved all expectations so far this season.
A team that was expected to be among the best in the National League finds itself in third place in the NL East and 6 1/2 games out of a playoff spot.
The Braves do, though, have the face of their franchise back on the field every day in Ronald Acuña Jr. and the former MVP made history on Wednesday.
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Acuña was selected as a starter in this season's All-Star Game in his home ballpark after appearing in just 36 games so far this year. He will be joined in the outfield by the Cubs' Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
With his selection as a starter, Acuña joined Joe DiMaggio as the only two players to ever be selected to the All-Star Game despite not making their season debuts until their team's 50th game of the season.
It is the fifth All-Star Game selection of his career, and it will almost certainly be a special one for what could be Atlanta's lone representative in the game.
Acuña's selection is more than deserved, as he is having an excellent season fresh off of his second ACL tear in four years.
He has a .346 average with five doubles, nine home runs, 18 RBIs and a 1.063 OPS. Acuña is the lone reason that folks are giving the Braves even the slightest of hopes in the NL playoff picture.
It is a safe assumption to say that the Braves will not be making any kind of heroic run to the World Series like they did in 2021, but it would certainly not be impossible if Acuña could get similar offensive production from any of his teammates.
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