Mount Rushmore: Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018-Present), Jason Heyward (2010-14), Andruw Jones (1996-2007) and David Justice (1989-96)
Brightest Star: Andruw Jones
.263/.342/.497, 368 HR, 1,117 RBI, 138 SB, 61.0 bWAR, five-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove
Save for Barry Bonds with the Giants and Mike Trout with the Angels, this was the most open and shut case of all. Jones was one of the greatest defenders—quite possibly the greatest defensive center fielder—to ever play the game, who also averaged 34.5 home runs and 103.4 RBI over his final 10 seasons in Atlanta.
Jason Heyward was also one heck of an asset on defense, but he only spent his first five seasons with Atlanta and was never anything close to the offensive machine that Jones was. Ronald Acuña Jr., though, has an OPS north of .900 in a career already featuring the 2018 NL ROY, the 2023 NL MVP and five All-Star Games. Had he been healthier over these past eight seasons, it’s surely a closer call for brightest star. 1990 NL ROY David Justice had some kind of run with Atlanta, too, posting an OPS north of .800 in each of his final seven seasons there.
Toughest Omission: Ryan Klesko (1992-99)
Like Justice, Klesko had an OPS of at least .800 in each of his final seven seasons with Atlanta, but his peak was never quite as high, his lone All-Star Game appearance coming in 2001 while with San Diego.