Fans Are Stunned By 'Perfect' Ronald Acuña Jr. Throw Against Yankees

Jul 18, 2025 8:32 PM EDT

Aaron Judge, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon stayed in Atlanta after Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic, with the Yankees taking on the Braves on the road at Truist Park.

The Yankees caused some raised eyebrows prior to the game, with the announcement of Ian Hamilton as the opener and newly called up Rico Garcia as the bulk pitcher being seen as a poor way to begin the second half.

At the time of writing, the Yankees trail the Braves 6-0 after Ozzie Albies’ three-run homer off Garcia, but much of that has to do with a play from outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. that has fans buzzing.

Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves waves to the crowd during the first inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images — Source: Acuña

In the top half of the third inning, the Yankees were threatening, with Cody Bellinger up and a pair of runners on with one out. Bellinger flew out to right, with Acuña being forced deep into the right field corner to make the play.

Effortlessly, and with no run up, Acuña unleashed a frozen rope of a throw right on the money to nail Jorbit Vivas at third base and end the inning. Immediately after Acuña’s play, Albies would homer and seemingly put the game out of reach.

Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were buzzing about Acuña’s easy mechanics and athleticism, with Braves reporter Grant McAuley even putting Acuña’s name in the same sentence as Roberto Clemente.

Atlanta radio station 680 The Fan wrote, “Ronald Acuña Jr. is simply not of this world.”

Another user wrote: “I can’t comprehend how Ronald Acuña Jr. just made this throw.”

The improbability of the play becomes even more stunning with the memory of May 2024, when Acuña suffered the second torn ACL of his career, and is now playing on two surgically repaired knees, which makes plays like tonight’s even more impressive.