A grand slam signals Acuña is ready for the Classic—could it launch another MVP season?

Before Ronald Acuña Jr. departed the Atlanta Braves’ spring training to join Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic preparations, the question arose: Did his experience in the same tournament three years ago contribute to his historic 2023 NL MVP campaign?

“I think it helped a lot,” Acuña said. “There’s good hitting, good pitching, and so many superstars playing. I didn’t perform well in the last Classic, but this is a new Classic now, and I’m very excited.”

Acuña’s excitement grew today. In the Braves’ 15–8 rout of the Boston Red Sox, he stole two bases in the first inning and launched a grand slam during an 11-run third inning. This was his final spring training game before joining Venezuela. He gave his Braves teammates reason to anticipate what he can deliver after another year removed from his second major knee surgery since July 2021.

“He’s more back to normal, right?” Braves ace Chris Sale said. “Last year he was coming off knee surgery, so you just hoped for the best. Now, clearly, that’s behind him. Watching him hit the ball out, watching him run the bases, steal bases—I mean, that’s him, that’s what he can do. I’m excited to see it all unfold over the full season.”

Acuña went 4-for-18 with only one double during the 2023 Classic, hardly a standout performance. But the experience of preparing for the Classic and facing elite competition in a high-intensity March environment seemed to launch a historic season, making him the only player ever with 40+ homers and 70+ steals in a year.

“I love position players playing in the Classic,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I think, ‘What better environment to get them ready?’ I believe it accelerates the preparation process for the season.”

Three years ago, while Braves teammates followed the usual spring training routine, Acuña experienced the thrill of Venezuela defeating the Dominican Republic before 35,890 passionate fans in Miami, then beating Puerto Rico before a similar crowd the next day, nearly upsetting Team USA in the quarterfinals.

“Every time I put on the jersey that says ‘Venezuela,’ I feel immense pride,” Acuña said. “I want to do something special for my country, something special with my teammates. I want to make everyone proud.”

Acuña, Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, Chadwick Tromp, and Nacho Alvarez Jr. are the five position players leaving Braves camp this week to join their Classic national teams. Alvarez will represent Mexico. Profar, Albies, and Tromp will play for the Netherlands, managed by Hall of Famer Andruw Jones.

The Netherlands and Venezuela will open Group D play in Miami on March 6 at noon ET. The Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua will also compete in the group.

“I think having Ozzie, Profar, and Tromp on the other side in the opener will help him get into gear faster,” said Venezuelan-born Braves senior coach Eddie Perez. “They talk about it every day. You hear them saying things like ‘We’re going to beat you.’ It’s fun to listen to. That will motivate Acuña to prepare and perform better. It helps him for both the Classic and the regular season.”

After his first Classic three years ago, Acuña returned with a mission. He posted a staggering .337 average, 41 homers, 73 steals, and a 1.012 OPS. Even setting aside the 73 steals, his season was uniquely exceptional.

Since the divisional era began, there have been 18 player-seasons with 40+ homers and a .335+ average. Barry Bonds accounts for four; Colorado Rockies players benefited from Coors Field’s hitter-friendly environment for five. Acuña, Carlos Delgado (2000), Albert Pujols (2003), Vladimir Guerrero (2000), Mike Piazza (1997), Miguel Cabrera (2013), Frank Thomas (1996), Derrek Lee (2005), and Mo Vaughn (1998) are the only others. Among them, only Acuña, Guerrero, and Pujols achieved this at age 25 or younger.

Acuña’s 149 runs scored rank second in the divisional era, behind only Jeff Bagwell’s 152 in 2000. His 217 hits rank second among seasons with 80+ extra-base hits since 1969, trailing only Don Mattingly’s 238 hits in 1986 (which included 86 extra-base hits).

Both Acuña and the Braves hope this year’s Classic experience can once again lead to an incredible summer. But before pursuing another World Series title for Atlanta, the 28-year-old outfielder is first focused on helping Venezuela win the Classic.

“We were born for this,” Acuña said. “The Dominican Republic is strong, the United States is strong. But we are strong too. We’ll play the game the right way and see what happens.”