Ronald Acuna Jr.'s youngest brother reaches verbal agreement with Braves' division rival

More than half of the teams in the NL East could have a member of the Acuna family playing for them in the 2030s.

Reigning NL MVP outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has spent his entire career with the Atlanta Braves and recently expressed his desire to stay there well past his current contract length. 

The 26-year-old signed an eight-year, $100M deal (which includes team options in 2027 and 2028) in 2019.

Acuna Jr. first signed with the Braves as an international free agent at 16 years old in 2014 for $100,000.

His younger brother, 21-year-old infielder Luisangel, agreed in principle to sign with the Braves in 2017, one year before his superstar sibling made his big-league debut. 

Due to the organization's international signing scandal that year, however, they lost the ability to pay Luisangel's (and other prospects') signing bonuses and he became a free agent.

He signed with the Texas Rangers in July 2018 and was traded to the New York Mets in July 2023 for former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and cash considerations.

It was reported Friday by MLB insider Hector Gomez that the youngest of four Acuna brothers had reached a verbal agreement with another rival of the Braves — the Philadelphia Phillies. 12-year-old Kenny Acuna won't be eligible to formally sign with the club until January 2028.

The fourth member of the quartet is 18-year-old infielder Bryan Acuna, who's currently in the Minnesota Twins organization. He recorded one home run, 14 RBI and four stolen bases with a .185/.327/.227 slash line over 119 at-bats in the Florida Complex League in 2023.