Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. Superstar Leader Role Model

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Atlanta Braves fans know the story, but I need to add some of it for context. In 2018, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto were the talk of baseball. In 2019, Fernando Tatis Jr. joined the who-do-you-want-to-start-a-franchise-with conversation with a scorching April until injury sidelined him for six weeks. Sadly, the phrase injury sidelined him became a theme for Tatis’ career since then.

Parallels and Responses

Acuña finished fifth in NL 2019 MVP voting and followed that with a 12th-place MVP finish in 2020. He was on his way to another MVP when he blew out his ACL in 2021.

He returned in 2022 but his knee wasn’t 100%. He struggled at the plate, on the bases, and on defense but played every day the knee allowed him to, without complaining or excuses. He took full responsibility for his play and earned the respect of his teammates by doing so. This season, he's reached heights never before achieved in Major League baseball.

Tatis Jr. suffered from hamstring and lower back issues in 2019, limiting him to 130 games. In 2021Tatis Jr.:

Went on the IL in April with a left shoulder subluxation,
Spent four days on the COVID-19 IL in May,
Reinjured his shoulder in June and essentially missed the remainder of the season.

Tatis Jr. started 2022 on the IL with a wrist fracture suffered in the offseason and missed the rest of the season after MLB suspended him for 80 games after he tested positive for PEDS. During that suspension, he had surgery on his shoulder, and later, his wrist.

Unlike Acuña, when Tatis Jr. returned this season. he not only had to show that he could stay on the field, he also had to regain the trust of his teammates.

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Acuña’s knee wasn’t 100% until November 2022. When it was, he packed his bags and made a trip few fans knew about until recently. As Dennis Lin wrote for The Athletic, Acuña says that trip was the springboard to his success.

…(Acuña) spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic training with the father of a friend. From Nov. 10 until around Thanksgiving, ESPN reported, Acuña hit almost daily under the supervision of Fernando Tatis Sr. … He later credited a mechanical tweak recommended by Tatis Sr. for putting him on track to win what would be his third Silver Slugger Award…
Dennis Lin in The Athletic. 9/14/2023

Although his shoulder hadn't fully healed, Tatis Jr. rehabbed alongside Acuña last winter. He watched how hard he worked and saw his openness to integrating the lessons from Tatis Sr.

Before the season began, Tatis Jr. apologized to his team and promised he’d do better. Throughout the season, he watched Acuña apply the lessons learned and recognized that the hard work done in the offseason led to breaking records and becoming a favorite in the NL MVP race.

Lin asked Tatis Jr. if Acuña’s season ”represents a template” he’ll follow, Tatis Jr. said, “No doubt.” And he’s probably not the only one.

Watching the Atlanta Braves celebrate, it's easy to see that these players love each other. / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Rise And Rise Of Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña’s arrived in 2018 as a supremely talented, inexperienced 20-year-old who didn’t always hustle. The media made much of Acuña’s quote about Freddie Freeman after his departure, but later, it became clear that Freeman had only reminded him that the team depended on him to give it everything he had every day.

Since those early days, Acuña’s matured into a player who, like Freeman, hates it when he’s not on the field. Paraphrasing his words from an interview on MLB Network with Albert Pujols, Acuña said he’s learned that the game is never easy, and he’s now dedicated to being the best player on the field, not for himself, but for the team.

Superstar to Role Model

Acuña told Pujols he was afraid he’d never play again but was determined to work hard to recover and improve because his goal is always helping the Braves win.

Young Latin Americans who dream of playing Major League baseball have many stars to admire. They watch the players who have made it to the bigs, looking for someone as a model for their own career. There are many young Latin American stars to choose from but hearing Acuña talk about his journey, they learn that it takes more than talent.

Tatis Jr. knows Acuña's journey as a friend and sees it as a template for his career. But he’s not the only one.

Acuña is a Latin American idol but the way he’s overcome obstacles and achieved success is a template for young players everywhere with talent and a dream of becoming a star in any sport. His message is that they must understand that talent alone isn’t enough. Success requires hard work and the desire to improve every day while remembering that it’s not always about you, it’s about you and your team,

That’s a Wrap

Some say teams take on the personality of the manager, but in truth, teams take on the personality of all of its leaders, formal and informal. We know Manager Brian Snitker loves all his players, and it was clear from day one that Ozzie and Ronnie love each other.

While Acuña leads the lineup and is the no doubt superstar on the team, the rise of Orlando Arcia, the resurrection of Marcell Ozuna, the way Michael Harris II and others who joined during the season fit in immediately is due in no small part to the influence of Acuña and Albies.

Call it team chemistry if you wish, but this team loves each other; it’s what makes this team hard to beat. The Atlanta Braves take the field knowing they can win and they never quit trying to seal the deal. If they lose, they file it under yesterday’s news and take the field expecting to win the next game because they trust and love each other.

Win or lose, that’s what makes them champions.

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Atlanta Braves MVP Candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. is a Superstar, Leader, and Role Model

Parallels and Responses

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The Rise And Rise Of Ronald Acuña Jr.

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