NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 6, 2023

Ronald Acuña

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Ronald, Snit just said you're kind of coming out of your skin, so excited about the playoffs. How do you describe what you're feeling here?

RONALD ACUÑA: That's right. I'm really excited just to be going into this postseason healthy. We have high expectations, and I think for us, it's just about going out there and playing the game we've been playing all season long.

Q. I thought it was interesting, Strider said that he really liked playing in the simulated games. I wanted to get your thoughts. He feels like you guys are more locked in this year because of having the simulated games and you guys are ready to play energetic baseball.

Can you talk about what you thought about the simulated games? And he kept mentioning energetic baseball. Is that something you guys are talking about in the clubhouse at all?

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah, I completely agree with him, everything he said. I feel like those games sort of just kept us on pace and felt like just playing games just like all the other teams in the postseason were playing. So, yeah, I feel like it got us ready and hopefully it'll help avoid what happened last season.

Q. Ronald, just with your first inning offense as a team, how important is it for you guys to try to score early, something you guys weren't able to do last NLDS?

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah, what happened last year stays in last year, right? This is 2023, and my goal is always to just find a way to get on base, and that way we can score, and hopefully early.

Q. Ronald, how much, if at all, did losing to the Phillies last year motivate you guys for this year going forward?

RONALD ACUÑA: I feel like we're always a motivated team. What happened last year is in the past. So our goal stays the same, just go out there and win.

Q. This would be Ozzie Albies' first postseason back after missing last year due to injury. How huge is it to have him back on the field for this postseason?

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah, extremely happy, and obviously the most important thing is that we were all able to stay healthy on the team and that we're going into it healthy and just going out with the same goal of winning tomorrow.

Q. There was an old adage in baseball in the postseason that good pitching beats good hitting. Do you guys think that your offense with all the records you've broken and all that is good enough to do what you've done all year against any pitcher?

RONALD ACUÑA: We're going to go out and do the same thing that we always do. That's our job. I feel like our mentality in the postseason team is to go out there and put the ball in play and hit it hard. I think we're a team that doesn't believe in those things.

Q. (Question in Spanish)?

RONALD ACUÑA: Just happy to have the opportunity to be back in the postseason with the goal and aspiration to reach the World Series and obviously going to give 200 percent to make that possible.

Q. First of all, do you wear that shirt every day?

RONALD ACUÑA: First time wearing it.

Q. Two years ago, I know there were pictures of you. You were at the parade. You held up the World Series trophy and everything, but I know it was also mixed emotions. Can you just recall how difficult that was for you, your team winning the World Series, but sort of not being a part of it?

RONALD ACUÑA: Injuries are part of the game. That's just something that you can't avoid. But regardless, I was just happy to be a part of the team in '21.

Obviously I would have liked to contribute and help and been on the field to help them win, but nonetheless, I was really happy to be part of the team and be able to celebrate with them.

Q. Similar, when did you get the shirt?

RONALD ACUÑA: Today.

Q. Second, Ronald, can you describe how different you feel right now versus a year ago at this time?

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah. Completely different. I feel like I did back in 2019 when I was a player who could just play without restrictions. Yeah, I feel comfort knowing that I'm going into it 100 percent healthy and I know all the work that I put in coming into this moment, all the restless and sleepless nights thinking about this opportunity to be back in the postseason and all the work that was put into just being here.

Q. Ronald, during the rehab process and all that, was there ever a moment maybe that you thought, I don't know if I'll be 100 percent, and now that you are, just how much more does it mean to be in this moment after everything that you've gone through?

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah. Thankfully, right now I feel like I'm 100 percent back to being normal. I'd be lying if I said that I thought that I would ever be able to get back to 100 percent. Last year, I felt like I was saying all the time that, yeah, I'm 100 percent, I'm 100 percent, but I feel like that was just something I was telling myself just to -- you know, for my mind really.

Q. It seems like obviously we didn't know you when you were real young, but early in your career, you were never fazed by the big moment, the stage, playoffs, whatever. Have you always been that way that big moments, big stages, to you, it's just another game to go out and have fun?

Was there ever a moment where you got nervous? I'm just curious.

RONALD ACUÑA: Yeah, I think those are just moments and situations that everyone dreams of, imagines, thinks about. So I think whenever you have those moments in the regular season or the postseason, there's nothing to be nervous about.