Ronald Acuna is looking to return to his roots if the 2020 MLB campaign does not go according to plan.
The Atlanta Braves outfielder announced on his Instagram page Wednesday his plans to play winter ball in his native Venezuela if the season is cancelled or severely shortened, per David O’Brien of The Athletic. Acuna added that he would play for Tibrones de La Guaria in his hometown of La Guaria, the same team that his father, Ronald Sr, played for some 13 years ago.
Acuna, already one of the league’s brightest stars at 22 years old, agreed to an eight-year, $100 million extension with the Braves in 2019. O’Brien notes that playing winter ball is not a violation of Acuna’s contract but that the Braves and other teams have recently prohibited players from playing in Venezuela due to the political and economic turmoil there. Atlanta is said to have been assured though that the out-of-way town where Acuna lives is safe for him.
Major League Baseball’s plans to potentially play out the season in an isolated location have gotten pushback from some of their top stars. If the league cannot arrive at a viable solution, Acuna has his contigency plan in place.
