Every baseball star, the sort of guy whose crack of the bat sounds like a creation of nature and whose glide through the outfield feels like a work of art, has an origin story. The stories behind them are typically laced with the threads of small beginnings, hidden sacrifices, and a shared dream. For Ronald Acuña Jr., the Atlanta Braves‘ electrifying outfielder and 2023 National League MVP, that story didn’t start under the glow of stadium lights, but on the streets of La Sabana, Venezuela, with a determined mother and the echoes of his father’s own baseball journey. Eager to know the story?

Before he was hitting 41 homers with 73 stolen bases in a historic MVP season, Acuña Jr. was a kid whose world revolved around a simple ritual. “The first thing to know about me is that as a kid growing up in La Sabana, Venezuela, I basically only needed two things: A newspaper and some tape,” he shared with The Players’ Tribune.

And when his father, Ronald Acuña Sr., was away in the United States pursuing his own baseball dreams in the minor leagues, young Ronald was obsessed with searching for tape. Old newspapers were easy to find, but tape? That was the daily quest, a mission that usually led him to his mother.

His mother, whom he described as a “hard-working, driven woman,” sold raffle numbers for the local lottery to support the family. Initially, she walked the streets, later setting up a small stand near their home. This, Acuña Jr. fondly recalled, “was also great for me. That made it easy to drop by and bug her for spare change.” His plea was earnest: “Mom, can I have some money? Pleeeeease! PLEEEEEASE!! I need to buy some tape.” But what remains dear to his heart is that his mother never questioned why he needed money or why he wanted tape. Why? Because she understood. That tape transformed newspapers into makeshift baseballs, the tools of his passion.

With those self-made baseballs, Acuña Jr. used to “make 15 or 20 at a time,” and felt invincible. “With some newspaper and a good roll of tape, I felt like I could do anything. Like I was king of the world,” he confessed.

The weight and significance of his family’s shared dream crystallized when he finally got called up to the Major Leagues. His mother immediately got emotional with tears pouring down her face, and she told him, “Keep working hard… Because we want to go see you in the Major Leagues. I want to go see you there, son. So keep working.” And he didn’t fail in fulfilling his heartfelt promise.

That dream of playing in MLB was one shared by his father. Acuña Sr. was an eight-year minor leaguer (Mets, Blue Jays, Brewers) whose peak came at Double-A. He compiled a .282 batting average with 18 home runs and 187 stolen bases over 3,276 at-bats in his MiLB career. Reflecting on his own path, Acuña Sr. once shared, “I had talent… But I never cared about lifting weights. Nor did I have the best attitude on the field.” He’s used these regrets to guide his sons, a poignant backdrop to Acuna Jr.’s own ascent.

A Season in Need: Ronald Acuña Jr. arrives to bolster the Braves

The timing of this heartfelt Players’ Tribune piece feels not just coincidental, but timely and poetic. Acuña Jr. is set to return to the Braves’ lineup as of Friday, May 23. This return was announced just three days shy of the one-year anniversary of his ACL tear on May 26. It was a long road back for ‘El de La Sabana,’ involving nearly a full year of rehabilitation. Before returning, he posted a .400 average (6-for-15) with two homers over those six successful rehab games at Triple-A Gwinnett, advertising his readiness.

His return means more than just a statistical boost; it’s an emotional one for the Braves team fighting through its own set of adversities. He’s back in the leadoff spot as the legit leadoff hitter role where he boasts a career .293 batting average, a .384 on-base percentage, and a .533 slugging percentage. His presence is expected to significantly strengthen the production of teammates like Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Matt Olson. There’s even bold talk of him hitting 25 home runs despite essentially playing only four months this season.

The Braves certainly need his spark. They are fourth in the NL East, 8.0 games behind the division leader with a 24-25 record. The team has been up and down offensively, hitting .247 with 53 home runs. Their pitching has been steadier, with a team ERA of 3.85. The Braves are counting on Acuña’s presence to help narrow the gap between their underlying talent and their current standing in a competitive league.