Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is the crown jewel in a Venezuelan family that has produced more than 50 individuals who have played baseball professionally during the 20th and 21st centuries. He has placed himself at the top of the heap with an extremely high motor, power, and base running acumen that exudes shades of Roberto Clemente and Henry Aaron. Although instead of harnessing anger like the two aforementioned right fielders with bronze plaques in Cooperstown, Acuña Jr.’s disposition in between the lines is anchored by an infectious and honest love for the game of baseball. The celebrations, the swagger, and the casualness of it all compounded by the fact that the 28-year-old right fielder posts video game numbers when fully healthy has made him one of MLB’s biggest superstars during the 2020s. The feat grows even more impressive once you consider that he’s done this while appearing in more than 150 games twice out of eight total seasons.
Being a constant fixture in the Venezuelan Winter League shows that he understands the importance and power of representation. Above all else, its another demonstration of his immense love for baseball. Up until the 1970s, it was common for MLB’s superstars to play baseball in the various Latin Winter Leagues during the offseason on a regular basis. Acuña Jr.’s done a great job of possessing worthwhile old school ideals, but has also openly displayed that he is heavily influenced by the modern NBA. He named one of his sons after Jamal Crawford and brings a lot of flair to the diamond. From euro steps when circling the bases after a home run to Ja Morant’s grenade toss, Acuña Jr.’s been MLB’s equivalent of Chad Ochocino with his celebration repertoire since debuting in 2018.
His ability to connect with people through baseball can been seen in the large number of videos strewn across social media of the 5x All-Star playing baseball with enthusiastic children and teenagers in Venezuela during the offseason. I’m always reminded of Willie Mays playing stickball with children in the streets and corridors of New York City whenever I come across one of these videos. Acuña Jr.’s willingness to be the engine of Venezuela’s team for the past two World Baseball Classics was not surprising to me at all. The only thing that could’ve stopped him from wearing La Vinotinto or Venezuela’s tri-colors were the bogus insurance 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 appearance in the WBC semi-finals since 2009 during the current tournament. In four games, he has logged a 1.142 OPS across 19 plate appearances with six walks and only two strikeouts.
During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Acuña Jr. wore the number 42. During the current World Baseball Classic taking place in 2026, he has worn the number 21. 42 was worn by Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson and 21 was worn by Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente during their respective MLB careers. I do not think that is a coincidence based on Acuña Jr.’s prior history with jersey numbers. Throughout his professional career, Acuña Jr. has been very intentional with the number that he wears on the back of his jersey. During his time climbing through the minor leagues, he wore 24 in honor of fellow Venezuelan and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera. When he got called up to the majors in 2018, he chose 13, the number his father wore during his professional career in MiLB. Whenever he plays in the Venezuelan Winter League for La Guaira he wears the number that his father wore, which is 27. I would love to see Acuña Jr. continue this tradition during the 2029 World Baseball Classic with 44, in honor of Henry Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Davis. It will be interesting to see what direction Acuña Jr. decides to go in when it is time for the 2029 WBC rosters to be announced.