Luisangel Acuña Explained

Luisangel Acuña
Team:New York Mets
Number:2
Position:Infielder
Birth Date:12 March 2002
Birth Place:Caracas, Venezuela
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 14
Debutyear:2024
Debutteam:New York Mets
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2024 season
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.308
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:3
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:6
Teams:
  • New York Mets (–present)

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

Texas Rangers

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.[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

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.[28]

Notes and References

  1. News: Glier . Ray . July 1, 2021 . Two Acuna brothers in the majors? Luisangel out to make a name for himself . July 13, 2021 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . English.
  2. Web site: Shaikin . Bill . November 21, 2017 . MLB strips Atlanta Braves of 12 prospects, bans former GM for life . July 13, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  3. Web site: Sanchez . Jesse . Rangers sign Ronald Acuna's brother Luisangel . MLB.com . 2018-07-02 . 2024-10-21.
  4. Web site: Hill. Jordan D.. July 2, 2018. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna's brother agrees to a contract with this team. July 13, 2021. Ledger-Enquirer.
  5. Web site: Newberg . Jamey . Texas Rangers 2020-21 offseason prospect rankings: Part 4 (No. 12 through 1) . The Athletic . 2021-02-10 . 2024-10-21.
  6. Web site: Grant . Evan . Scouting the Rangers’ top prospects, No. 15: What does the future hold for Ronald Acuña Jr.’s younger brother? . Dallas News . 2021-04-01 . 2024-10-21.
  7. Web site: Badler. Ben. 2019 Dominican Summer League Top 20 Prospects. July 14, 2021. Baseball America. January 9, 2020 . en.
  8. Web site: Wilson. Jeff. October 12, 2020. Ronald Acuna Jr. says brother, a Rangers prospect, may be better. July 13, 2021. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  9. Web site: Where will Rangers' top prospects begin '21?. Kennedi Landry. MLB.com. April 30, 2021. May 8, 2021.
  10. Web site: June 13, 2021. Acuña's big night helps Wood Ducks beat Fayetteville. July 13, 2021. WNCT. en-US.
  11. Web site: Hilburn-Trenkle. Chris. Baseball America Prospect Report—July 7, 2021. July 13, 2021. www.baseballamerica.com. July 7, 2021 .
  12. Web site: Landry . Kennedi . March 4, 2022 . Acuña's brother carving own path with Rangers . March 5, 2022 . .
  13. Web site: Blake. John. October 1, 2021. Texas Rangers announce 2021 Minor League award winners. October 4, 2021. MLB.com.
  14. Postins . Matthew . August 2, 2022 . Rangers Call Up Another Top-10 Prospect . August 17, 2022 . Sports Illustrated.
  15. Web site: Callis . Jim . October 8, 2022 . Acuña shows off his tools in the Fall League . November 20, 2022 . MLB.com.
  16. Web site: Josh . Jackson . Jacob . Resnick . Stephanie . Sheehan . Rob . Terranova . November 6, 2022 . How every player did in the Fall Stars Game . November 20, 2022 . MLB.com.
  17. Web site: Weaver . Levi . November 15, 2022 . Martín Pérez returns to Texas, Dennis Santana traded, 6 added to 40-man roster . November 16, 2022 . .
  18. Web site: Luisangel Acuña Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News . September 14, 2024 . MiLB.com . en.
  19. Web site: Scherzer traded to Texas after Max approves deal. mlb.com. Kennedi and Andy White. Landry. July 29, 2023. July 30, 2023.
  20. Web site: Trezza . Joe . Mets' Gilbert, Acuña rocket back-to-back homers . MiLB.com . 2024-10-21 . 2024-10-21.
  21. News: DiComo . Anthony . How Luisangel Acuña can earn a callup . September 7, 2024 . MLB.com . September 7, 2024.
  22. News: Mets' Jeff McNeil has broken wrist, likely out 4-6 weeks . September 7, 2024 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . September 7, 2024.
  23. Web site: 2024 Syracuse Mets Statistics . 2024-10-21 . Baseball-Reference.com . en.
  24. Web site: September 14, 2024 . Mets promote IF Acuna, brother of Braves star . September 14, 2024 . ESPN.com. Associated Press . en.
  25. Web site: Sanchez . Robert . SEE IT: Mets' Luisangel Acuña gets first major league hit in fourth inning . Yahoo! Sports . 2024-09-14 . 2024-10-21.
  26. Web site: DiComo . Anthony . Luisangel Acuña has first career homer and RBI for Mets . MLB.com . 2024-09-18 . 2024-10-21.
  27. Web site: Luisangel Acuña Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News . 2024-10-02 . MLB.com . en.
  28. Nelson . Joe . January 28, 2022 . Twins sign 16-year-old brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. . August 17, 2022 . Sports Illustrated.

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