Ronald Acuna Jr. haunts the Mets after the team sends his brother Luisangel to the minors

Ronald Acuña Jr. Thrives After Mets’ Minor League Move

On the day the Mets decided to send their younger brother to the minors, Ronald Acuña Jr. found a way to turn the situation around. Within just three innings during a game at Citi Field, he hit a home run, helping Atlanta secure a 3-2 victory over the Mets. This came shortly after the Mets announced that Louis Sangel, Acuña’s brother, would be moving to Triple-A Syracuse following his lack of performance in the major leagues.

Acuña, however, suggested that this decision didn’t serve as extra motivation for him. “It’s business,” he stated through an interpreter. “We all understand. Of course, I want to share the field with my brother and be with my team. But, honestly, winning tonight was what mattered most to me.”

The Mets’ choice to demote Louis Sangel was somewhat expected. With Jeff McNeil regularly playing second base and Brett Baty and Ronnie Mauricio splitting time at third base, there really wasn’t much room for him to contribute.

Acuña seemed unbothered by the booing from the crowd, resembling the way former Braves player Chipper Jones used to rile up Mets’ fans over the years. “It feels good, honestly,” he said about the crowd’s reaction. “It makes me more confident.”

After hitting his home run off Paul Blackburn, Acuña engaged in his usual celebration, which includes covering his ears and flapping his arms as if dancing. If the early season is any indication, he might just continue to be a thorn in the Mets’ side this year. So far, Atlanta has claimed victory in their first four matchups against New York, and Acuña has been on fire since returning last month after an injury from the previous season.

He made his comeback on May 23 and entered Monday’s game boasting the second-best OPS in the league at 1.202, trailing only Seattle’s Callowry. His batting average for the season currently stands at an impressive .504, the highest in the sport.

“Everything he’s done since he came back is remarkable, especially for a player who missed so much time,” Braves manager Brian Snitker commented. “It’s a joy to watch him play his game.”