MIAMI -- "When we went to the World Series," Ronald Acuña Jr. said earlier this week, "I wasn't there. Thank God I'm living this great moment in my career."
When the Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 2021, Acuña was reduced to spectator. A torn ACL had relegated the outfielder -- one of the most electric and dominant stars in the sport -- to the injured list, forced to watch as his teammates played in Major League Baseball's biggest games. Now healthy and playing for his country in the World Baseball Classic, he has helped Venezuela reach the championship game for the first time in the tournament's 20-year history.
He's even able to look back at that injury with an appreciation now.
"I am very happy with everything that happened to me, including the injuries," Acuña said after Venezuela's 4-2 victory against Italy on Tuesday night. "I'm more mature as a person, I'm more mature as a player. So I'm more experienced right now."
The injury hasn't even sapped him of his speed -- which he displayed when he beat out an infield single to tie the game in the seventh inning before his cousin and Venezuela teammate, Maikel Garcia, drove in the go-ahead run behind him.
"I'm stealing bases. I thought to myself that I wouldn't steal more bases, but this is not going to be the case," Acuña said.
While Acuña knows the importance of the World Series, there's something special about playing with his homeland on his chest.
"I love the Atlanta Braves, but before playing for the Braves, I was born in Venezuela," Acuña said. "I would put this as number one in my career. I am very happy for representing my country."
The country will now get a chance to enact some revenge on the United States, who knocked them out in the previous tournament. In 2023, Venezuela held a 7-5 lead over the U.S. in the 8th inning of the quarterfinal with Acuña responsible for driving in one of the runs. But one huge swing from Trea Turner with the bases loaded changed all that, flipping the game and sending America to the next round. For Venezuela, it was another early exit for a powerhouse baseball nation that -- until now -- had never reached the World Baseball Classic final.
"Baseball gives you these kind of opportunities. Life is so ironic," Acuña said. "I'm very happy to play the United States again. They are all superstars, but we have a great team as well. We are going to play our game. Let's see what happens tomorrow."