Ronald Acuña Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ronald Acuña Jr. |
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Acuña with the Atlanta Braves in 2021
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| Atlanta Braves – No. 13 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 18, 1997 La Guaira, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| April 25, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 27, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .290 | ||
| Home runs | 178 | ||
| Runs batted in | 441 | ||
| Stolen bases | 200 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ronald José Acuña Blanco Jr. (born December 18, 1997) is a professional baseball player from Venezuela. He plays as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball (MLB). Acuña signed with the Braves in 2014. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and quickly became a star. That year, he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Since 2018, Acuña has been chosen for the MLB All-Star team five times. He has also won three Silver Slugger Awards. He led the league in stolen bases twice. In 2023, he joined the exclusive 40–40 club, meaning he hit 40 home runs and stole 40 bases in one season. He also set a new team record for stolen bases with 73. Acuña became the first MLB player ever to have a 40–70 season (40 home runs and 70 stolen bases). He won the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Contents
Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Ronald Acuña Jr. began his professional baseball career in July 2014. He signed with the Atlanta Braves for $100,000. He started playing in 2015 with the Gulf Coast Braves. Later that year, he moved up to the Danville Braves. In his first year, he played 55 games. He hit four home runs and stole 16 bases.
In 2016, Acuña continued to play well despite an injury. He played for the Melbourne Aces in Australia and was named an All-Star there. In 2017, he quickly moved through different minor league teams. He played for the Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves, and Gwinnett Braves. He was chosen for the All-Star Futures Game. That year, he hit 21 home runs and stole 44 bases.
After the 2017 season, Acuña played in the Arizona Fall League. He won the league championship and was named the league's Most Valuable Player. He was the youngest player to win this award. Heading into the 2018 season, many experts ranked Acuña as one of the top young players in baseball.
Joining the Atlanta Braves
2018: Rookie of the Year Season
The Braves called Acuña up to the major leagues on April 25, 2018. He was the youngest player in MLB at that time. In his first game, he got his first hit. The next day, he hit his first MLB home run. He quickly became a key player for the Braves.
After the All-Star break, Acuña started hitting in the leadoff spot. He hit home runs in five straight games in August. This made him the youngest player since 1920 to do so. He also hit two home runs in one game for the first time. Acuña was named the Rookie of the Month for August.
On September 5, Acuña broke a Braves team record for leadoff home runs in a season. He hit his 25th home run on September 9. This made him one of only seven MLB players to hit that many home runs before turning 21. By the end of 2018, Acuña played in 111 games. He hit 26 home runs and stole 15 bases.
In the playoffs, Acuña made history on October 7. He hit a grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers. At 20 years old, he became the youngest player in MLB history to hit a postseason grand slam. On November 12, he was officially named the National League Rookie of the Year.
2019: A Big Contract and 40-30 Club
On April 2, 2019, Acuña signed a big contract with the Braves. It was for eight years and $100 million. He was the youngest player in baseball history to sign such a large deal. By mid-season, he was chosen as a starting outfielder for the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also took part in the 2019 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.
On August 24, Acuña joined the 30–30 club. This means he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in one season. He was the second-youngest player to reach this goal. On September 19, he hit his 40th home run. This made him the youngest player ever to join the 40–30 club. He ended the year with 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He led the National League in runs scored and stolen bases. Acuña also won a Silver Slugger Award for his great hitting.
2020: Shortened Season Success
The 2020 baseball season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves still won their division for the third year in a row. Acuña hit a very long home run that year, 495 feet. It was the longest MLB home run of 2020. He finished the season with 14 home runs. He also won his second straight Silver Slugger Award.
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2021: Injury and World Series Ring
Acuña started the 2021 season very strong. He was named the National League Player of the Month for April. On May 19, he hit his first career walk-off home run to win a game for the Braves.
However, on July 10, 2021, Acuña suffered a serious leg injury. He tore a ligament in his right knee. This injury ended his season early. Before the injury, he had 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 82 games. He was chosen to start the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game but could not play. Even though he was injured, the Braves went on to win the 2021 World Series. Acuña received a World Series ring for his contributions to the team.
2022: Return from Injury
Acuña spent time recovering from his knee injury. He returned to play on April 27, 2022. Fans voted him to be a starting outfielder for the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also took part in the 2022 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. He finished the season with 15 home runs and 29 stolen bases in 119 games.
2023: MVP and 40-70 Season
Acuña had an amazing 2023 season. He was named the NL Player of the Month for April and June. On July 3, 2023, he became the first player in MLB history to have 20 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 50 RBIs before the All-Star break.
On August 31, Acuña joined the 30–30 club for the second time in his career. He hit a grand slam for his 30th home run. With that home run, he also became the first player in MLB history to have 30 home runs and 60 stolen bases in the same season. On September 22, Acuña joined the 40–40 club for the first time. He eventually became the first player in MLB history to have 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in the same season. He also broke the Braves' modern-era record for stolen bases with 73.
Acuña finished the 2023 season with a .337 batting average, 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases. He led all of Major League Baseball in hits, runs, and total bases. He won another Silver Slugger Award. Later, he was named the National League Most Valuable Player. He won this award unanimously, meaning every voter chose him. He also won the Hank Aaron Award.
2024: Another Injury
On April 22, 2024, Acuña set a new Braves franchise record for stolen bases since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. However, on May 26, he suffered another serious leg injury. An MRI showed he tore a ligament in his left knee. This injury meant he would miss the rest of the 2024 season. In 49 games, he had 4 home runs and 16 stolen bases.
2025: Back on the Field
Acuña returned to play on May 23, 2025. In his first game back, he hit a home run on the very first pitch he saw! On June 25, he announced he would participate in the 2025 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. On the same day, he stole his 200th career base. This made him the 8th active player to reach this milestone. Acuña was also selected as a starting outfielder for the National League in the 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
How Ronald Acuña Jr. Plays
Batting Style
Ronald Acuña Jr. is a powerful right-handed batter. He can hit the ball well all over the field. Experts have compared his batting style to legendary players. He has strong core power that helps him hit without a big backswing. This allows him to control the bat well and make strong contact.
Baserunning Skills
When Acuña is on base, he has a special way of standing. He looks like an infielder or a running back ready to sprint. This stance helps him get a fast start and steal bases. It also makes it harder for fielders to guess when he might try to steal.
Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Family Life
Ronald Acuña Jr. comes from a family of baseball players. His grandfather, Romualdo Blanco, and his father, Ronald Acuña Sr., both played minor league baseball. His father also played for Venezuela in the 2011 Pan American Games.
Ronald Jr. is the oldest of four sons. His mother is Leonelis Blanco. His younger brother, Luisangel Acuña, is also a professional baseball player. Several of his cousins have also played in Major League Baseball. These include José Escobar, Vicente Campos, Alcides Escobar, Edwin Escobar, and Kelvim Escobar.
Acuña married Maria Laborde on August 31, 2023. They had been together for four years and got engaged in January 2023. They have two sons.
See also
In Spanish: Ronald Acuña Jr. para niños
- List of Atlanta Braves award winners and league leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
