All Eyes on Acuna

At least mine and 4888 others, as Luisangel Acuna made his debut in the Mets organization.

The highly touted infield prospect, and younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Junior, was the Mets' return for Max Scherzer in the weekend's blockbuster trade.

Media attention had already made his name and face familiar to fans in Binghamton.  That got the autograph collectors out early --  before the pre-game stretching.

The debut came with family ties for Acuna -- whose father Ronald Senior played for Binghamton from 2002-2004.  It was a low key night with plenty of positives.  Leading off and playing shortstop, Luisangel went 0 for 4 but hit the ball hard his first three times up.  His first two at bats ended with hard hit fly balls to the warning track; then a hard hit grounder to the shortstop, and a pop up to short right.  He worked the count, didn't swing impulsively and, most impressively when we're talking about Baseball 2023. he didn't strike out. 

Fielding was no problem.  In fact, he stood around most of the night;  only two ground balls came his way; he fielded them flawlessly. The shot below came right before a pop up sailed out of his reach and was caught by the Rumble Ponies left fielder.

Final image of the night, captures Acuna at dusk.  It effectively combines his focus as a half-inning ends with the eye-pleasing setting of Mirabito Stadium.