Braves Acuña Reaching MVP Form While Representing Venezuela at WBC

The Atlanta Braves superstar is pulling out all the stops for Venezuela; this could be a sneak peak of what's to come

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:51pm

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Ronald Acuña Jr. is showcasing his talent and passion while representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The Braves outfielder has been a standout performer, hitting two home runs and stealing two bases through the first five games. This high-stakes tournament could be a preview of what's to come for Acuña and the Braves in the 2026 MLB season.

Why it matters

Acuña is one of the top players in baseball, and his performance in the WBC could indicate that he is returning to MVP form after managing his health following an ACL surgery. A healthy and dominant Acuña would be a huge boost for the Braves as they look to contend for another World Series title.

The details

Acuña has been a tone-setter for Venezuela, hitting a home run on the second pitch of the quarterfinal game against Japan. He has shown his trademark energy and passion, pounding his chest as he crossed home plate and getting into it with umpires when calls didn't go his way. Through five games, Acuña is batting .278 with a 1.125 OPS, a .458 on-base percentage, two home runs and three RBIs.

  • Acuña hit a home run on the second pitch of Venezuela's quarterfinal game against Japan on March 15, 2026.
  • Acuña is currently playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The players

Ronald Acuña Jr.

An Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder who is representing Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A Japanese pitcher who faced off against Acuña and Venezuela in the WBC quarterfinals.

Dan Iassogna

The first base umpire who made a call that Acuña disagreed with during the WBC quarterfinal game.

Shohei Ohtani

A star player who Acuña will have to get past to win the National League MVP award.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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