Ronald Acuña Jr. is a professional baseball player from Venezuela who currently plays as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB).
He was born on December 18, 1997, in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Acuña Jr. made his MLB debut in 2018 after signing with the Braves as an international free agent in 2014.
He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season and was named an MLB All-Star, was the NL stolen base leader, and won a Silver Slugger Award the following season.
Acuña Jr. has a batting average of .282 over his career with 128 home runs and 604 hits. He is 6-0 (183 cm) tall and weighs 205 lbs (92 kg).
The MLB star recently got married to his longtime girlfriend, Maria Laborde, in a small private ceremony.
Who is Maria Laborde?
Maria Laborde is a Venezuelan model and beauty queen who gained recognition for her relationship with Acuña Jr.
She was born in Valencia in Carabobo, Venezuela, and was crowned Miss Teen Carabobo in 2015.
Maria is active on social media, with highlights on her Instagram page (@marialaborde) documenting the moment that Acuña Jr. proposed to her.
She is also the mother of Acuña Jr. children.
Acuña Jr. married Maria in a small private ceremony on September 1, 2023.
The wedding took place in the morning, hours before Acuña Jr. made MLB history by hitting a grand slam on his wedding night, becoming the first 30-HR, 60-SB player.
The couple had been engaged before the wedding, and they have two children together.
The wedding was an intimate ceremony held at a house, and the couple tied the knot in front of close friends and family.
The wedding was kept private, and there are no details about the wedding venue or the guest list.
The couple has been together for a long time, and their relationship has been a topic of discussion among fans and the media.
The wedding was a special moment for the couple, and it was a memorable day for Acuña Jr., who made history on his wedding night.
View this post on Instagram
Ronald Acuña Jr. career
Acuña Jr.’s grandfather, Romualdo Blanco, and father, Ronald Acuña Sr., both played minor league baseball.
Acuña Sr. represented Venezuela at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Acuña Jr. signed with the Braves as an international free agent in 2014 and made his MLB debut in 2018.
In his rookie year, Acuña Jr. won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
The following season, he was named an MLB All-Star, was the NL stolen base leader, and won a Silver Slugger Award.
In 2023, Acuña Jr. has become a two-strike monster, hitting .243 in those counts after averaging .172 in his career.
Through June 30, 2023, he has a batting average of .285, 140 home runs, 349 runs batted in and 143 stolen bases.
Acuña Jr.’s childhood was spent in Venezuela, where he grew up playing baseball with his father and grandfather.
His father was his first coach, and he taught him how to hit and field.
Acuña Jr.’s family was poor, and they struggled to make ends meet.
He has gained a significant amount of attention and fame in recent years, and is widely regarded as one of the best young players in baseball and is considered a future superstar.
Acuña Jr. has also been involved in some controversies, such as a fan confrontation during a game against the Rockies in 2023.
Ronald Acuña Jr. just became the FIRST EVER player with 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in a single season‼️ pic.twitter.com/rmHE6FGjng
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2023