Ronald Acuña Jr. returns to Braves camp after helping Venezuela to World Baseball Classic title
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Ronald Acuña Jr. returned to Braves camp a champion for his native Venezuela.
Acuña helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic earlier this week, an achievement the all-world outfielder considers the greatest of his illustrious career.
He rejoined the Braves in North Port, Florida, on Friday, receiving recurring congratulatory sentiments from teammates and Braves representatives. He was joined by Braves bullpen coach Jose Yepez, who served as Venezuela’s general manager and will likewise be remembered as an integral figure in the country’s rich baseball history.
“It’s amazing,” Acuña said. “I made my people proud, my country proud. We play for them. That’s our country.”
Acuña had a .962 OPS across seven games in the tournament, homering twice, collecting four RBIs and scoring 10 runs. Venezuela defeated surprise team Italy and then the United States to clinch its first WBC title.
And upon returning to camp, it was time for friend Ozzie Albies to pay off their bet. Acuña’s Venezuelans began their run by defeating Albies’ Netherlands. The two, who have played their whole careers together with the Braves, had friendly banter for weeks in camp leading up to the WBC.
Albies had to wear Acuña’s No. 21 Venezuela jersey throughout Friday. He even wore the full uniform on the field during pregame workouts. “I lost a bet,” Albies said.
Acuña is assembling one of the greatest careers for any Venezuelan player. He took the modest route when discussing his accolades, crediting past Venezuelan stars like Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordóñez and Salvador Perez for giving him and his countrymen a performance level to aspire to.
But there’s no question, Acuña already ranks among his country’s best. He’s a five-time All-Star, National League MVP, NL Rookie of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year. He’s contributed to seven playoff teams (six division champs) and has a ring for the 2021 season, during which he was phenomenal in the first half but missed the rest of the season with a torn ACL. He’s the first player to produce a 40-70 season.
Now, importantly, he’s the face of Venezuela’s first WBC victory.
“Acuña is one of the best players in the world,” said Yepez, who’s watched his career unfold up close, dating back to coaching him in the minor leagues. “With Venezuela, his first day, he was telling everybody it was his dream to win that. He was putting in effort before games and in practice, he really wanted this. He played very well and I’m proud of him.”
The Braves have had the blessing of nurturing a Hall of Fame talent’s career, and Acuña is still just 28 years old.
“(Venezuela loves him) a lot, man,” veteran Venezuelan pitcher Martin Pérez, in Braves camp, said of Acuña. “I cannot explain because it’s too much. People love him because of the way he plays, the way he says things. He’s straight with people, and most of the people like that. Acuña is a superstar, man. I think the way he plays baseball, the way he feels when he loses, it’s amazing. He’s going to be good for a long time.”
The WBC set the stage for a potentially monstrous Acuña season. The 2023 NL MVP is fully healthy and riding the high of the past couple of weeks. Perhaps he’s primed to remind baseball how dynamic a player he is when he’s full go.
His ninth season begins March 27 when the Braves host the Royals at Truist Park.
About the Author
Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.
