Is Luisangel Acuna related to Ronald Acuna? Breaking down Mets rookie's connection to Braves star

Sarah Effress

Is Luisangel Acuna related to Ronald Acuna? Breaking down Mets rookie's connection to Braves star image

Two Acunas are rostered on MLB postseason squads. One will make his playoff debut in Milwaukee with the Mets, and the other's team, the Braves, will head to San Diego.

The former made his first major league plate appearance just two weeks ago. The latter's 2024 season ended on May 26, when what was initially pegged as knee soreness revealed itself to be a complete tear in his left ACL. 

Though only one will be taking the field in October, both will be cheering for a team other than their own. 

Here's everything to know about the relationship between Luisangel and Ronald Acuna, including breaking down the Mets rookie's connection to the Braves star. 

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Is Luisangel Acuna related to Ronald Acuna?

Luisangel and Ronald are brothers, both hailing from Venezuela. Ronald signed with Atlanta as an international free agent in 2014 and debuted in the Majors in 2018, eventually winning National League Rookie of the Year. 

Since then, he's made four All-Star appearances, won three Silver Slugger Awards, and earned a key to the 40-40 club in 2023, which includes legends Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), and Shohei Ohtani (2024).

Unfortunately, after a historic season last year where he was named NL MVP and became the first player ever to tally 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases, Acuna tore his left ACL just three years after tearing his right ACL, which caused him to miss the second half of the 2021 season.

Joining him in the big leagues this year is Luisangel. He initially agreed in principle to sign with the Braves in 2017, but the deal was voided due to Atlanta's international signing scandal. In July 2018, though, he signed with the Rangers and made his professional debut for the DSL Rangers of the rookie-level Dominican Summer League. 

He continued to play in the Minors, and Texas eventually traded him to the Mets nearly five years to the day after when he was signed by the Rangers. Luisangel began the 2024 season with Triple-A Syracuse, and New York promoted him to the Mets on Sept. 14, two weeks before the postseason with the team in the wild-card hunt. 

MORE: World Series predictions | Full playoff schedule | Scores today

Luisangel Acuna and Ronald Acuna 2024 stats

Neither Acuna brother played a full regular season in 2024. However, they appeared in enough contests to fill a stat sheet. 

Here's how Luisangel and Ronald fared ahead of the postseason.

MORE: How Jose Iglesias started New York's rallying cry for 2024 playoffs

StatLuisangel AcunaRonald Acuna
G1449
AB39192
R638
H1248
HR34
RBI615
BB127
SO653
SB016
AVG.308.250
OBP.325.351
SLG.641.365
OPS.966.716

Sarah Effress

Sarah Effress Photo

Sarah Effress is an editorial intern for The Sporting News. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and loves to talk soccer and women's college sports.