Acuña grew up in La Sabana, Venezuela.[1] Acuña had agreed in principle to sign with the Atlanta Braves in 2017, but due to the Braves international signing scandal, Atlanta was stripped of its ability to pay his signing bonus and he returned to the open market.[1][2] On July 2, 2018, Acuña signed with the Texas Rangers for a $425,000 signing bonus.[3][4]
Acuña spent the 2021 season with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low-A East.[9][10][11] Over 111 games, he hit .266/.345/.404 with 12 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 44 stolen bases.[12] Acuña was named the Rangers 2021 minor league Defender of the Year.[13] Acuña opened the 2022 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-ASouth Atlantic League, hitting .317/.417/.483 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases over 54 games. He was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-ATexas League on August 2 and finished the season after hitting .224/.302/.349 with three home runs, 18 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases for Frisco.[14] Acuña played for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League following the 2022 season, and was named to the Fall League All-Star team.[15][16]
On November 15, 2022, the Rangers added Acuña to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[17] Acuña was optioned back to Frisco to begin the 2023 season.[18]
New York Mets
Acuña in 2024
On July 30, 2023, the Rangers traded Acuña to the New York Mets in exchange for Max Scherzer and cash considerations.[19] In 37 games, he batted .243/.317/.304 with 2 home runs, 12 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. Acuña began the 2024 season with the Triple–A Syracuse Mets.[20] In 2024, Acuña played second base, shortstop and center field, and led Syracuse in stolen bases.[21][22] In 131 games for Triple–A Syracuse, he batted .258/.299/.355 with 7 home runs and 50 RBI.[23]
On September 14, 2024, the Mets promoted Acuña to the major leagues and he made his major league debut the same day against the Philadelphia Phillies.[24] He recorded his first major league hit, a single to center field off of pitcher Taijuan Walker in the fourth inning.[25] On September 17, during a game against the Washington Nationals, Acuña hit his first major league home run off of pitcher Joe La Sorsa, leading the Mets to a 10–1 victory.[26] In 2024, Acuña appeared in 14 games, batting .308/.325/.641 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI.[27]
Personal life
Acuña comes from a baseball family. His brother, Ronald Acuña Jr., is an MLB outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. His father, Ronald Sr., played in minor league baseball for three organizations, and, in 2022, his younger brother Bryan was signed by the Minnesota Twins.[4][28]
.jpg)
