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Atlanta Braves All-Decade Team of the 2010’s

By Adam MacKinnon

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: The Atlanta Braves logo is painted on the field at Champion stadium during a spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets on March 23, 2019 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: The Atlanta Braves logo is painted on the field at Champion stadium during a spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets on March 23, 2019 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves All-2010s Team

LEFT FIELD:  RONALD ACUNA JR.

  • 2017- CURRENT
  • 67 Home Runs
  • 53 Stolen Bases
  • 130 OPS+
  • 2018 Rookie Of the Year
  • 1 All-Star appearance
  • 1 Silver Slugger

The next great Atlanta Phenom occupies left field for the All-Decade team.  Acuna has brought a signature flair and talent to the game (although, admittedly the flare can get in the way sometimes) that has invited comparisons to Andruw Jones in his prime, or more recently, Mike Trout.

He came up just short of a 40/40 season in 2019, just his second full season in the show, and while the strikeouts seemed to pile up a bit on him, he’s shown an ability to make adjustments, and one can infer the sky is truly the limit for this talented superstar.

Like his partner in crime Ozzie Albies, Acuna signed a long term extension that will keep him in an Atlanta uniform for a bulk of the coming decade, so fans can look forward to him anchoring the top of the Braves lineup for a long time.

CENTER FIELD:  ENDER INCIARTE

  • 2016 – CURRENT
  • 29 Home Runs
  • 71 Stolen bases
  • 3 Gold Glove awards
  • 1 All-Star selection

While the stats may not shoot off the page for Ender, the fact is that he has been one of the most consistent center fielders for the Braves in this decade.  His glovework has been outstanding, recording gold gloves every year he’s played at least 100 games with the Braves, and although his bat hasn’t been spectacular, a 95 OPS+ isn’t bad for a defensive-minded player.

He’s already logged more games in center field for the Braves than anyone else this decade, and despite a down year and some injury concerns this past season, he looks primed to start in center again in 2020.

For the Braves, the exciting possibility with Ender is that if he can get just a little more production out of his bat, coupled with his elite defense, there’s a ton of potential for him.

RIGHT FIELD:  JASON HEYWARD

  • 2010-2014
  • 84 Home Runs
  • 63 Stolen Bases
  • 71 Defensive Runs Saved
  • 1 All-Star appearance
  • 2 Gold Glove awards

When Jason Heyward blasted a ball into the right-field seats against Carlos Zambrano in his first Major League at-bat, you had a feeling that good things were on the horizon.  Chip Caray’s triumphant “WELCOME TO THE SHOW” still echoes in the minds of Braves fans to this day.

The kid seemed like the total package.  He could hit, run, and boy could he find his way around an outfield.  As time would go on, it seemed that Heyward was more potential than actual, and he struggled to maintain consistency, especially at the plate.

Heyward was traded to the Cardinals before the 2015 season, but still earns the nod as the Right Fielder of the 2010s in Atlanta, thanks to his slick work in the outfield, speed on the bases, and bursts of greatness at the plate.

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