NEWS: Ronald Acuña Jr. heads to WBC looking like an MVP again

Spring training 2026 has barely begun, but Ronald Acuńa Jr. is headed to the World Baseball Classic looking like his old self again.

After a Grapefruit League game in late February, the Atlanta Braves outfielder seems like he’s on track for another monster year like his 2023 MVP season in which he smashed 41 homers and swiped 73 bases — the first 40-70 season in history.

In his final spring training tune-up, the Atlanta Braves superstar crushed a grand slam and swiped two bases in the first inning, a reminder of the dynamic force he can be when healthy.

Acuña is once again flashing the power-speed combination that made him one of baseball’s most feared players. Last season, he battled through injury after suffering a torn ACL in 2024, limiting both his explosiveness and production. Though he still showed flashes, it wasn’t the same dominant presence.

Now fully recovered, Acuña heads to the WBC  to represent his native Dominican Republic brimming with confidence — and with  the Braves looking forward to having him back in the lineup after missing the 2025 postseason, breaking a streak of  after seven straight playoff appearances.

The WBC tournament takes place March 5-17.

All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball. com illustration