PHILADELPHIA – The baseball world witnessed a historic moment as Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves sensation Ronald Acuña Jr., showcased his talent in a remarkable major league debut with the New York Mets on Saturday.
Acuña, who was recently called up from Triple-A Syracuse, made his presence known by delivering two hits in his debut game. Starting at shortstop in Philadelphia, the 22-year-old impressed by hitting a leadoff single in the fourth inning off Taijuan Walker and then another leadoff single in the ninth against Carlos Estévez.
Following New York’s 6-4 loss to the Phillies, manager Carlos Mendoza commended Acuña’s performance, stating, “Good to see him fight and get us going in the ninth. I thought he was good.”
Acuña, touted as one of the Mets’ top prospects, had an impressive season in Triple-A, hitting .258 with 40 steals while showcasing his versatility in various positions such as second base, shortstop, and center field.
Acuña’s journey with the Mets began when he was acquired as part of the trade that sent Max Scherzer to Texas in July 2023. Outfielder DJ Stewart was subsequently sent down to make room for Acuña on the roster.
Currently, the Mets are in a tight race for the NL wild card spots against teams like Atlanta, Arizona, and San Diego. With Acuña’s addition, the Mets hope to secure their position in the postseason.
Acuña’s call-up came shortly after star shortstop Francisco Lindor exited Friday night’s game due to lower back soreness. Manager Mendoza emphasized that the decision was precautionary, allowing Lindor to rest and recover for another day.
In addition to Lindor’s absence, Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil is currently sidelined due to a right wrist fracture sustained from a hit by pitch incident on September 6.
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