Ronald Acuña Jr.: Venezuelan Professional Baseball Outfielder for the Atlanta Braves – Stats, Jersey, Contract & more

Estimated read time 13 min read

Ronald Acuña Jr. is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is one of the most exciting and talented young players in the game, known for his five-tool ability, which includes elite speed, power, and arm strength.

Acuña was born in La Guaira, Venezuela, on December 18, 1997. He comes from a baseball family, as his father and grandfather both played minor league baseball. Acuña signed with the Braves as an international free agent in 2014, and he made his MLB debut in 2018.

Details about Ronald Acuña Jr.’s background:

  • Name: Ronald Acuña Jr.
  • Position: Outfielder
  • Team: Atlanta Braves
  • Age: 25 (as of September 25, 2023)
  • Height: 6’0″
  • Weight: 205 lbs
  • Nationality: Venezuelan
  • Previous clubs: None

In his rookie season, Acuña batted .293/.366/.516 with 26 home runs and 64 RBIs. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year and finished second in the NL MVP voting.

In 2019, Acuña was named an MLB All-Star and won a Silver Slugger Award. He finished the season batting .280/.365/.440 with 41 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. He became the first player in MLB history to hit at least 40 home runs and steal at least 30 bases in a season before the age of 22.

Acuña missed the majority of the 2021 season due to a torn ACL, but he returned in 2022 to play in 119 games. He batted .266/.351/.413 with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases.

Acuña is one of the most popular players in baseball, and he is known for his flashy style of play and his infectious energy. He is a key player for the Braves, and he is expected to be one of the best players in the game for many years to come.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

  • Acuña is a five-tool player, meaning he excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, running, throwing, and fielding.
  • He has a quick and compact swing, generating a lot of bat speed and exit velocity. He can hit the ball to all fields and has a good eye for the strike zone.
  • He has tremendous raw power, capable of hitting towering home runs and extra-base hits. He can also use his speed to stretch singles into doubles and steal bases at a high rate.
  • He is an athletic and agile outfielder, covering a lot of ground and making spectacular catches. He has a strong and accurate arm, throwing out runners on the bases.
  • He is a charismatic and energetic player, bringing passion and enthusiasm to the game. He is also a leader and a mentor to his younger teammates.
  • He sometimes struggles with breaking balls and off-speed pitches, especially when he tries to pull them. He can also be prone to strikeouts and slumps when he chases pitches outside the zone.
  • He can be overaggressive on the bases, running into outs or getting caught stealing. He can also be overconfident on the field, making errors or misjudging fly balls.
  • He can be emotional and temperamental, sometimes arguing with umpires or opposing players. He can also be distracted or complacent, losing focus or intensity.

Tactical role of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Contribute to the Overall Strategy:

  • Acuña usually bats leadoff for the Braves, setting the tone for the offense and putting pressure on the defense. He can start the game with a home run or a stolen base, giving his team an early advantage.
  • He can also bat in the middle of the order, driving in runs and providing protection for other hitters. He can change the game with one swing of the bat or one sprint on the bases, creating big innings for his team.
  • He plays mostly right field for the Braves, but can also play center field or left field if needed. He covers a lot of ground and makes difficult plays look easy. He also prevents runners from taking extra bases or scoring with his arm.
  • He is a key part of the Braves’ core, along with Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley. They form one of the most potent lineups in baseball, combining power, speed, and contact.
  • He is also a fan favorite and a role model for many young players, especially in Latin America. He represents his country and his culture with pride and joy. He is one of the faces of MLB’s youth movement and international diversity.

Hobbies & Interests of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

  • He enjoys playing video games, especially MLB The Show, where he often plays as himself or his teammates. He also likes to watch Netflix and YouTube videos in his spare time.
  • He loves spending time with his family, especially his son, Ronald Acuña Jr. III, who was born in 2020. He often posts photos and videos of his son on social media, showing his affection and pride.
  • He is passionate about helping his community in Venezuela, where he grew up playing baseball with his brothers and cousins. He has donated his Venezuelan winter league salary and the prize money from a Home Run Derby victory to the Roger Blanco Foundation, benefiting children in La Guaira.
  • He admires fellow Venezuelan outfielder Miguel Cabrera, who he watched play in Venezuela when he was younger. He met Cabrera in Spring Training and received advice from him on how to stay humble, work hard, and listen to those around him.
  • He is interested in learning new languages, especially English. He has taken English classes in the minor leagues and has practiced speaking English in interviews and with his teammates. He has also learned some Japanese words from his former teammate Shohei Ohtani.

Net worth of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

According to different online sources, Ronald Acuña Jr. has accumulated an estimated net worth of around $11 million in 2023. He has gained such a net worth mainly because of his excellent baseball playing skills for the Atlanta Braves. Ronald’s net worth has only gone up throughout the years. In 2019, he had a net worth of $4 million. Then, in 2020 it increased to $5 million.

His net worth then became $7 million in 2021. It changed to $9 million in 2022. Finally, it reached his current net worth of around $11 million in 2023. It is expected that Ronald’s net worth will continue to increase as his performance continues to get better in the future.

Personal life of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

Ronald Acuña Jr. is not married. However, he is in a long-term relationship with Eva Luccia, a fitness coach from Venezuela. They have been together for several years and have a son named Ronald Acuña Jr. III, born in 2020. The couple’s romantic journey is marked by more than just their recent nuptials. Their story includes the birth of their first child, Ronald Daniel Acuna Laborde, in September 2020. The family expanded even further with the arrival of a new sibling in late 2022.

Acuña’s proposal to Luccia earlier this year added a touching chapter to their story. In a heartwarming video, a visibly nervous Acuña got down on one knee during a family dinner, presenting a ring to his then-girlfriend. The moment was captured on social media, allowing fans a glimpse into this personal milestone.

Family of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

Ronald Acuña Jr. was born on December 18, 1997, in La Guaira, Venezuela. His father, Ronald Acuna Sr., was also an MLB player and also represented Venezuela at the 2011 Pan American Games but much is not known about his mother, Leonelis Blanco. He belongs to an athletic family as his grandfather was also a baseball player along with his uncle and several cousins who also played at MLB. Ronald is known to have four siblings and is the eldest of them all and his younger brother Luisangel is with the Texas Rangers.

Height of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

Ronald Acuña Jr. is 6 feet or 1.83 meters tall and weighs around 82 kg or 180 lbs.

Contracts of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

Ronald Acuña Jr. signed an eight-year contract extension worth $100 million with the Atlanta Braves on April 2, 2019. This contract ensures that Ronald will get his guaranteed $100 million with an annual average salary of $12.5 million. The contract also has club options worth $17 million for 2027 and 2028 with $10 million buyout for these two years. This contract is the largest in history for a player with as little service time as Acuña (165 days), according to the Braves. It is also the second-largest contract in franchise history, trailing the eight-year, $135 million deal for Freddie Freeman in 2014.

Brands associated:

Ronald Acuña Jr. has signed various endorsement deals with popular brands like New Balance, SSK Gloves, Franklin Sports, Body Armor, Budweiser, MLB Tap Sports Baseball ‘21, Ride 100%, T- Mobile, and Glu Mobile.

Teams with Ronald Acuña Jr. played:

Ronald Acuña Jr. has played for the following teams in his professional baseball career:

  • Gulf Coast Braves (2015)
  • Danville Braves (2015)
  • Melbourne Aces (2016)
  • Rome Braves (2016)
  • Florida Fire Frogs (2017)
  • Mississippi Braves (2017)
  • Gwinnett Braves (2017-2018)
  • Atlanta Braves (2018-present)

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Awards & Achievements of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

  • He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, becoming the eighth player in Braves history to do so.
  • He was selected as an All-Star four times (2019, 2021-2023), and won the Silver Slugger Award twice (2019, 2020) as an outfielder.
  • He led the National League in stolen bases (37) in 2019, and became the second player in MLB history to record at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, joining Jose Canseco (1988).
  • He became the first player in MLB history to reach 160 home runs and 160 stolen bases before turning 26 years old.
  • He set a franchise record for the Braves with 72 runs scored in the first half of the 2021 season.
  • He posted a career-high .337 batting average, .416 on-base percentage, and .592 slugging percentage in 2023, ranking among the top five in the National League in each category.
YearTeamGamesAt BatsRunsHitsHome RunsRBIsStolen BasesBatting Average
2018ATL11143378127266416.293
2019ATL1566261271754110137.280
2020ATL46160464014298.250
2021ATL822977284245217.283
2022ATL11946771124155029.266
2023ATL1506111392063910067.337
Awards & Achievements of Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña did not go to college. He signed with the Braves as an international free agent in July,2014 when he was only sixteen years old.

Scouting Report of Ronald Acuña Jr.:

Ronald Acuña Jr. is one of the best players in baseball today, with a wide range of strengths and few glaring weaknesses. He is the rare prospect who actually carries future 60 (or better) grades on the 20-80 scale for all five tools. He is a charismatic and energetic player, bringing passion and enthusiasm to the game. He is also a leader and a mentor to his younger teammates. He is one of the faces of MLB’s youth movement and international diversity.

ToolGradeDescription
Hit60Acuña has a quick and compact swing, generating a lot of bat speed and exit velocity. He can hit the ball to all fields and has a good eye for the strike zone. He sometimes struggles with breaking balls and off-speed pitches, especially when he tries to pull them. He can also be prone to strikeouts and slumps when he chases pitches outside the zone.
Power60Acuña has tremendous raw power, capable of hitting towering home runs and extra-base hits. He can also use his speed to stretch singles into doubles and steal bases at a high rate. He has not hit for a ton of home runs in his minor league time so far, but he showed his potential by joining the 40–40 club in 2019 and becoming the fifth player in MLB history to do so.
Run70Acuña is a 70 runner, meaning he is among the fastest players in the game. He can cover a lot of ground on the bases and in the outfield, creating havoc for the defense. He led the National League in stolen bases (37) in 2019, and became the first player in MLB history to reach 160 home runs and 160 stolen bases before turning 26 years old. He can be overaggressive on the bases, running into outs or getting caught stealing.
Arm60Acuña has a strong and accurate arm, throwing out runners on the bases and preventing them from taking extra bases or scoring. He plays mostly right field for the Braves, but can also play center field or left field if needed. He won his first Gold Glove Award for his defense in right field in 2021. He can also be overconfident on the field, making errors or misjudging fly balls.
Field70Acuña is an athletic and agile outfielder, covering a lot of ground and making spectacular catches. He has excellent instincts and reactions, as well as good routes and angles. He won his second Gold Glove Award for his defense in right field in 2022.
Scouting Report of Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña has already accomplished a lot in his young career, but he still has many goals ahead of him. He wants to win a World Series championship with the Braves, break more records, and become a Hall of Famer. He also wants to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic and give back to his community in Venezuela. He is a player who loves the game and plays it with joy and pride. He is Ronald Acuña Jr., and he is a superstar.

FAQs about Ronald Acuña Jr.:

How old is Ronald Acuña Jr.?

Ronald Acuña Jr. is 25 years old as of 2023. He was born on December 18, 1997, in La Guaira, Venezuela.

What is Ronald Acuña Jr.’s contract with the Braves?

Ronald Acuña Jr. signed an eight-year contract extension worth $100 million with the Atlanta Braves on April 2, 2019. This contract ensures that Ronald will get his guaranteed $100 million with an annual average salary of $12.5 million. The contract also has club options worth $17 million for 2027 and 2028 with $10 million buyout for these two years .

What are Ronald Acuña Jr.’s career statistics?

Ronald Acuña Jr. has played for the Atlanta Braves since 2018. As of September 25, 2023, he has a career batting average of .298, with 189 home runs, 396 RBIs, and 174 stolen bases in 664 games.

What are some of Ronald Acuña Jr.’s awards and achievements?

Ronald Acuña Jr. has won several awards and accolades, including the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, four All-Star selections (2019, 2021-2023), three Silver Slugger Awards (2019, 2020, 2023), and two Gold Glove Awards (2021, 2022). He is also the fifth player in MLB history to join the 40–40 club, hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a single season in 2019.

Who is Ronald Acuña Jr.’s girlfriend?

Ronald Acuña Jr. is in a long-term relationship with Eva Luccia, a fitness coach from Venezuela. They have been together for several years and have a son named Ronald Acuña Jr. III, born in 2020. They got engaged earlier this year in a heartwarming proposal that was captured on social media.

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