Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic before joining Team Venezuela. He credits his participation in the 2023 event with boosting his historic 2023 National League MVP season. In his final spring training game, Acuña showcased his skills with stolen bases and a grand slam.
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Ronald Acuña Jr. discussed the potential impact of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on his performance as he prepared to leave Atlanta Braves camp for Team Venezuela.
Acuña believes the 2023 WBC helped his success that year, despite his modest stats of 4-for-18 with a double in the tournament. "I think it helped a lot," Acuña said. "There’s good hitting and good pitching and a lot of superstars playing. The last World Baseball Classic, I didn’t have a good Baseball Classic, but there’s a new Baseball Classic this year. So I’m excited."
In his last Grapefruit League game, Acuña stole two bases in the first inning and hit a grand slam during an 11-run third inning, contributing to the Braves' 15-8 win over the Red Sox at CoolToday Park. This performance came a year after his second major knee surgery since July 2021.
Braves ace Chris Sale noted Acuña's return to form: "It's more back to normal, right? Last year, he's coming off a knee surgery and you're just hoping for the best, right? Now, obviously it looks like it's behind him. Watching balls leave the yard, watching him run the bases, stealing bags. I mean, that's who he is, that's what he does. I'm excited to see that play out throughout the year."
Acuña's 2023 season featured a .337 average, 41 home runs, 73 stolen bases, and a 1.012 OPS, making him the only player to achieve 40-plus homers and 70-plus steals. Braves manager Walt Weiss supports position players in the WBC: "I like position players playing in the WBC. I just think, ‘What's going to get them more ready than that environment?’ I think it accelerates that process of getting ready for the season."
During the 2023 WBC, Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic before 35,890 fans in Miami, beat Puerto Rico the next day, and nearly upset Team USA in the quarterfinals. "Every time we put on the jersey that says Venezuela, I’m so proud," Acuña said. "I want to do something special for my country, and I want to do something special with my teammates. I want to make everybody proud."
Other Braves position players departing include Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, and Chadwick Tromp for Team Netherlands, managed by Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, and Nacho Alvarez Jr. for Team Mexico. Venezuela opens Pool D against the Netherlands on March 6 at noon ET in Miami, with the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua also competing.
Braves coach Eddie Perez highlighted the friendly rivalry: "I think having Ozzie and Profar and Trumpy in the first game is going to help him get better and be ready. They talk about it every day. You hear them saying, ‘We're going to beat you’ and all of that. It’s fun to listen to them. This motivates [Acuña] to get ready and do better. It will help him in the WBC and the regular season."
Acuña aims to lead Venezuela to a title: "We were born for this. The Dominican has a really good team, and so does the USA. But we have a really good team. So we’ll play the game the right way and we’ll see what happens out there."
