Sports Editorial, February 16 (EFE).- Last season, Venezuelan Ronald Acuña destroyed the pitching of the Major Leagues and won the Most Valuable Player award in the National League, and with that campaign in the rearview mirror, the star slugger of the Atlanta Braves are committed to staying healthy to surpass what was achieved in the past MLB calendar.
“I think as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be able to do some special things,” said Acuña, who reported Friday to the Atlanta Braves’ training camp in North Port, Florida.
Last season, with the injuries and discomforts that had previously tormented him, Acuña had a monstrous performance from the plate, posting a batting average of .337, with 35 doubles, four triples and 41 home runs, while accumulating 106 RBIs.
Acuña led the Major Leagues in hits (217), stolen bases (73), runs scored (149) and on-base percentage (.416).
With his performance, the La Guaira native entered the 40-40 club in stolen bases and home runs, and became the first to achieve 40 or more home runs and 70 or more steals in a season in the history of the Major Leagues.
With everything and the performance he managed to post, and given the elimination of the Braves in the postseason, Acuña is convinced that he can achieve better results in the MLB season in 2024.
“It’s a new season. So, I will continue working and focusing on this opportunity to go further and do things better this season,” he said.
During the MLB break, Acuña dressed in the Tiburones de La Guaira uniform in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, a participation that he points out as key to maturing his game.
“It’s a veterans’ league. The atmosphere and the adrenaline are different. I think the opportunity to develop and mature as a player is important,” he said of his playing time with the eventual champions of Venezuela and the Caribbean Series.
Acuña, 26, has a guaranteed contract with the Braves until 2028 and, although he is still far from opting for Major League free agency, he has expressed his desire to be a member of this club for the rest of his professional career.
“It’s no secret that I want to be a Bravo for life. I hope I can stay here forever and I hope we can make that happen soon,” he said.
By: EFE
2024-02-17 01:06:39
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