Atlanta Braves famous person Ronald Acuña Jr. is the crown jewel in a Venezuelan household that has produced greater than 50 people who’ve performed baseball professionally throughout the twentieth and twenty first centuries. He has positioned himself at the high of the heap with a particularly excessive motor, energy, and base operating acumen that exudes shades of Roberto Clemente and Henry Aaron. Although as a substitute of harnessing anger like the two aforementioned proper fielders with bronze plaques in Cooperstown, Acuña Jr.’s disposition in between the strains is anchored by an infectious and trustworthy love for the sport of baseball. The celebrations, the swagger, and the casualness of all of it compounded by the indisputable fact that the 28-year-old proper fielder posts online game numbers when absolutely wholesome has made him one of MLB’s largest superstars throughout the 2020s. The feat grows much more spectacular when you take into account that he’s executed this whereas showing in additional than 150 video games twice out of eight complete seasons.
Being a continuing fixture in the Venezuelan Winter League reveals that he understands the significance and energy of illustration. Above all else, its one other demonstration of his immense love for baseball. Up till the Seventies, it was widespread for MLB’s superstars to play baseball in the varied Latin Winter Leagues throughout the offseason regularly. Acuña Jr.’s executed an important job of possessing worthwhile old fashioned beliefs, however has additionally overtly displayed that he’s closely influenced by the fashionable NBA. He named one of his sons after Jamal Crawford and brings lots of aptitude to the diamond. From euro steps when circling the bases after a house run to Ja Morant’s grenade toss, Acuña Jr.’s been MLB’s equal of Chad Ochocino along with his celebration repertoire since debuting in 2018.
His skill to attach with individuals via baseball can been seen in the massive quantity of movies strewn throughout social media of the 5x All-Star enjoying baseball with enthusiastic youngsters and youngsters in Venezuela throughout the offseason. I’m all the time reminded of Willie Mays enjoying stickball with youngsters in the streets and corridors of New York City every time I come throughout one of these movies. Acuña Jr.’s willingness to be the engine of Venezuela’s staff for the previous two World Baseball Classics was not shocking to me in any respect. The solely factor that would’ve stopped him from sporting La Vinotinto or Venezuela’s tri-colors had been the bogus insurance coverage permissions that prevented Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor from representing Puerto Rico. Alongside his cousin Maikel Garcia and Venezuelan captain Salvador Perez, he has led Venezuela to its first look in the WBC semi-finals since 2009 throughout the present event. In 4 video games, he has logged a 1.142 OPS throughout 19 plate appearances with six walks and solely two strikeouts.
During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Acuña Jr. wore the quantity 42. During the present World Baseball Classic going down in 2026, he has worn the quantity 21. 42 was worn by Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson and 21 was worn by Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente throughout their respective MLB careers. I don’t suppose that may be a coincidence based mostly on Acuña Jr.’s prior historical past with jersey numbers. Throughout his skilled profession, Acuña Jr. has been very intentional with the quantity that he wears on the again of his jersey. During his time climbing via the minor leagues, he wore 24 in honor of fellow Venezuelan and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera. When he received referred to as as much as the majors in 2018, he selected 13, the quantity his father wore throughout his skilled profession in MiLB. Whenever he performs in the Venezuelan Winter League for La Guaira he wears the quantity that his father wore, which is 27. I’d like to see Acuña Jr. proceed this custom throughout the 2029 World Baseball Classic with 44, in honor of Henry Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Davis. It shall be fascinating to see what course Acuña Jr. decides to go in when it’s time for the 2029 WBC rosters to be introduced.
