Ronald Acuna Jr.

Background

Ronald José Acua Blanco Jr. was born on December 18, 1997. His father is Ronald Acua Sr., and his mother is Leonelis Blanco. He is a Venezuelan playing as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of the Major League. In 2018, the year of his M.L.B. debut, he was named the ‘National League Rookie of the Year.’ Acuña agreed to a $100,000 international free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in July 2014. He made his professional debut in 2015 with the Gulf Coast Braves before being moved up to the Danville Braves later that year. He began the season playing for the Florida Hearth Frogs of the Class A Superior Florida State League before being promoted to the Mississippi Braves of the Class AA Southern League.

Acuña was one of the only three members of the world crew to play the entire game of the All-star Futures recreation roster in July. The Braves promoted Acuña to the major leagues on April 25, 2018. He claimed the distinction over teammate Ozzie Albies at the time as the youngest player in Major League Baseball as a result. For a rehab challenge, the Braves optioned Acuña to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 21. Acuña and the Braves reached an eight-year deal for well over $100 million on April 2, 2019.

He was invited to play in the 2019 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby after being picked at midseason as the starting outfielder for the National League in the all-star game. In a contest against the New York Mets on August 24 of the same year, he became a member of the 30-30 club. After Mike Trout, he became the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. Acuña’s 495-foot home run against the Pink Sox near the end of the season was the longest M.L.B. home run that year and the longest home run ever hit at Truist Park. He received his second Silver Slugger Award in a row. Acuña appeared to hurt his leg on July 10, 2021, while attempting to hit a fly ball.