Mets Trade Analysis: Luis Angel Acuña Misidentified
The Mets may have emerged victorious in the trade for Luis Robert Jr., possibly even in the eyes of the White Sox, who originally traded for him.
In acquiring the center fielder from the White Sox, the Mets parted ways with Luis Angel Acuña, a talented infielder noted for his defensive skills and speed.
However, White Sox president and general manager Chris Getz has repeatedly described Acuña as a “switch hitter,” at least four times since the transaction.
The issue here is that Acuña doesn’t actually hit from both sides; he exclusively bats right-handed.
As pointed out by Sam Farren from Roundtable Sports on X, Getz has referred to Acuña as a switch hitter in multiple media sessions, which seems quite puzzling.
It’s interesting because if Acuña could actually switch-hit, he would probably be valued even higher.
Yet, there’s no record of the 23-year-old ever batting left-handed in his professional career, whether in the minors or during winter ball.
Getz’s comments have gained enough traction that he felt the need to clarify things in a statement released Thursday morning.
“I may have been a bit obsessed with highlighting his versatility,” Getz explained regarding Acuña. “He can play anywhere on the field. Why should hitting be any different? I let Luis Angel know that even if he’s a right-handed hitter, we still appreciate him.”
The Mets brought Acuña on board, who happens to be the younger brother of Atlanta’s star, Ronald Acuña Jr., from the Texas Rangers before the 2023 trade deadline, trading away Max Scherzer in the process.
Subsequently, they exchanged him for Robert this offseason, along with 22-year-old minor league pitcher Truman Pauley, designated as the Mets’ starting center fielder after a lackluster season in Chicago.
Despite the struggle under Getz’s management since August 2023, which saw Chicago suffer a historic 121 losses the following season and 102 last year, this trade may provide a much-needed boost for Getz, who is anticipated to perform better this year.
