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Revision as of 23:04, 14 September 2024

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
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

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.[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 (RBI), and 17 stolen bases, and was named to the DSL All-Star team.[5][6][7] He did not play in game 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 RBI, 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 RBI, 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 RBI, 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 two 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, Acuña was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his Major League debut the same day against the Philadelphia Phillies.[24]

Personal life

Acuña comes from a baseball family. His brother, Ronald Acuña Jr., is an MLB outfielder.[1] His father, Ronald Sr., played in minor league baseball for three organizations, and his younger brother Bryan currently plays in the Minnesota Twins organization.[4][25]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ "MLB strips Atlanta Braves of 12 prospects, bans former GM for life". Los Angeles Times. November 21, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Jesse Sanchez. "Rangers' int'l haul includes Acuna's brother". MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  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. "Texas Rangers 2020–21 offseason prospect rankings: Part 4 (No. 12 through 1)". The Athletic. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Scouting the Rangers' top prospects, No. 15: What does the future hold for Ronald Acuña Jr.'s younger brother?". Dallas News. March 15, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  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. "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. ^ Josh Jackson, Jacob Resnick, Stephanie Sheehan, Rob Terranova (November 6, 2022). "How every player did in the Fall Stars Game". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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, Fantasy & News".
  19. ^ Landry, Kennedi and Andy White (July 29, 2023). "Scherzer traded to Texas after Max approves deal". mlb.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  20. ^ https://www.milb.com/news/back-to-back-homers-for-drew-gilbert-luisangel-acuna
  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. ^ "Luisangel Acuña Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "Mets promote IF Acuna, brother of Braves star". ESPN.com. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  25. ^ 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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