Luisangel Acuna: Former Mets Utility Player (2024 - 2025)

Luisangel Jose Acuna was born on March 12th, 2002 in La Sabana, Venezuela. Luisangel was born into a baseball family, his father Ronald Sr. played minor league baseball. His brother Ronal Jr. is an All Star player for the Atlanta Braves. A youngest brother was signed by the Twins organization in 2022.

The Acuna's are also cousins to major leaguers: Alcides Escobar (Royals, Brewers, National), Edwin Escobar (D-backs), Kelvin Escobar (Blue Jays, Angels) as well as Jose Campos (D-backs) & Maikel Garcia (Royals). His uncle Jose Escobar played ten games for Cleveland in 1991.

Luisangel was originally signed by the Braves as well but due to an international signing scandal
his contract was voided. In 2018 he was signed by the Texas Rangers. In 2022 he was promoted to the AA level spending two seasons at that level.

Mets Career: Om July 30th, 2023 Acuna was traded to the New York Mets for Max Scherzer & cash considerations. In the Mets organization he showed promise at AA Frisco & AA Binghamton.

In 2024 Acuna played at AAA Syracuse hitting .58 with 40 stolen bases & 20 doubles , scoring 90 runs with 50 RBIs. He played as a second baseman, short stop & centerfielder.

MLB Debut: On September 12th, he made his MLB debut in a big game at Philadelphia playing short stop in place of the injured Francisco Lindor. The Mets were in the wild card hunt taking on the first place Phils. In his second career at bat he led off the 4th inning with a base hit of Taijuan Walker. In the top of the 9th he collected his second hit, a single to center. The Mets took a 6-4 loss in the game.

From September 17th thru September 21st, Acuna drove in runs in four of five games, all important Mets wins. He also would hit safely in seven of the next eight games.

Mets Trivia: Acuna joined Kaz Matsui as the only Mets to hit six extra base hits in their first seven game. 

HRs in Back-to-Back Games: On September 17th in win over the Nationals at Citi Field, his fourth career game, Acuna had a multi-three hit game hitting his first career HR, a solo shot off Jorge La Sorsa plus an RBI double in the 10-1 win. The next night he homered for the second straight game, with a solo shot off Zach Brykcy in a 10-0 Mets combined shut out.

In 14 games that September, Acuna batted .308 with 12 hits, three HRs, six runs scored & six RBIs.

2024 Post Season: In the NLWC win over the Milwaukee Brewers, Acuna came in as a late inning defensive replacement for Mark Vientos at third base in all three games. In the NLDS win over the Phillies, he went 0-2 in two pinch hit at bats in Games 1 & 3. In Game #4 he was a late inning defensive replacement once again.

In the NLCS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he got a pinch hit at bat in the Game #1 loss, popping up to lead off the 9th inning. In the Game #2 win in L.A. he finished off the game as a late inning defensive replacement at third base. In the Game #5 win at Citi Field he came into pinch run for Jesse Winker.

2025: In a crowded Mets infield, Acuna made the Opening Day lineup playing second base, going 0-3 in the loss at Houston.

NL Rookie of the Month: In April Acuna hit .308 with 20 hits 12 runs scored, five doubles, six stolen bases in seven attempts & three RBIs, earning him Rookie of the Month honors. But from there on he struggled as his average fell to .241 by late June. On June 23rd he was sent back down to AAA Syracuse.

Upon his return he mostly played at second base but didn't fare much better at bat. On July 20th at Citi Field, In the bottom of the 5th, with the score tied 1-1 with the Reds, Acuna singled scoring Bret Baty with the go ahead run in the eventual 3-2 win. By the end of August he was sent back down to AAA Syracuse.

He returned as a September call up & quickly stole two bases. He collected just three hits with an RBI on the month. 

Acuna made what was his last Mets appearance as a late inning defensive replacement at second base in the 5-0 loss at Miami eliminating them from the post season. On the season in 95 games he hit .234 with 16 stolen bases, seven doubles & eight RBIs.

Career Stats: In his two year career, Acuna is hitting .248 with 53 hits nine doubles a triple, three HRs 36 runs scored & 14 RBIs. He stole 16 bases in 18 attempts, posted a .299 on bae % & .640 OPS.

In the off season, Acuna was traded along with Truman Pauley to the Chicago White for Luis Robert Jr.