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Luisangel Acuña

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Luisangel Acuña
Acuña with the Mets in 2024
New York Mets – No. 2
Infielder
Born: (2002-03-12) March 12, 2002 (age 22)
Caracas, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 14, 2024, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.308
Home runs3
Runs batted in6
Teams

Luisangel José Acuña (born March 12, 2002) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

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Texas Rangers

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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 made his professional debut with the DSL Rangers of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2019, hitting .342/.438/.455 with two home runs, 29 runs batted in (RBIs), and 17 stolen bases, and was named to the DSL All-Star team.[5][6][7] He did not play in any games in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

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-A South 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-A Texas 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

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b Glier, Ray (July 1, 2021). "Two Acuna brothers in the majors? Luisangel out to make a name for himself". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Shaikin, Bill (November 21, 2017). "MLB strips Atlanta Braves of 12 prospects, bans former GM for life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Sanchez, Jesse (July 2, 2018). "Rangers sign Ronald Acuna's brother Luisangel". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hill, Jordan D. (July 2, 2018). "Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna's brother agrees to a contract with this team". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Newberg, Jamey (February 10, 2021). "Texas Rangers 2020-21 offseason prospect rankings: Part 4 (No. 12 through 1)". The Athletic. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Grant, Evan (April 1, 2021). "Scouting the Rangers' top prospects, No. 15: What does the future hold for Ronald Acuña Jr.'s younger brother?". Dallas News. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Badler, Ben (January 9, 2020). "2019 Dominican Summer League Top 20 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Wilson, Jeff (October 12, 2020). "Ronald Acuna Jr. says brother, a Rangers prospect, may be better". The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Kennedi Landry (April 30, 2021). "Where will Rangers' top prospects begin '21?". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Acuña's big night helps Wood Ducks beat Fayetteville". WNCT. June 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  11. ^ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (July 7, 2021). "Baseball America Prospect Report—July 7, 2021". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Landry, Kennedi (March 4, 2022). "Acuña's brother carving own path with Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Blake, John (October 1, 2021). "Texas Rangers announce 2021 Minor League award winners". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  14. ^ Postins, Matthew (August 2, 2022). "Rangers Call Up Another Top-10 Prospect". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  15. ^ Callis, Jim (October 8, 2022). "Acuña shows off his tools in the Fall League". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  16. ^ Jackson, Josh; Resnick, Jacob; Sheehan, Stephanie; Terranova, Rob (November 6, 2022). "How every player did in the Fall Stars Game". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Weaver, Levi (November 15, 2022). "Martín Pérez returns to Texas, Dennis Santana traded, 6 added to 40-man roster". The Athletic. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Luisangel Acuña Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Landry, Kennedi and Andy White (July 29, 2023). "Scherzer traded to Texas after Max approves deal". mlb.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  20. ^ Trezza, Joe (October 21, 2024). "Mets' Gilbert, Acuña rocket back-to-back homers". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  21. ^ DiComo, Anthony (September 7, 2024). "How Luisangel Acuña can earn a callup". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mets' Jeff McNeil has broken wrist, likely out 4-6 weeks". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "2024 Syracuse Mets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  24. ^ "Mets promote IF Acuna, brother of Braves star". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Sanchez, Robert (September 14, 2024). "SEE IT: Mets' Luisangel Acuña gets first major league hit in fourth inning". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  26. ^ DiComo, Anthony (September 18, 2024). "Luisangel Acuña has first career homer and RBI for Mets". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Luisangel Acuña Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Nelson, Joe (January 28, 2022). "Twins sign 16-year-old brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
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