Baseball’s National League Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna honed his skills with the Melbourne Aces

MAJOR League baseball sensation Ronald Acuna has claimed the National League Rookie of the Year award but did you know the Venezuelan slugger started out in the Australian Baseball League.

Ben Higgins

less than 2 min read

November 13, 2018 - 11:30AM

Ronald Acuna during his time at Melbourne Aces. Picture: Dean Martin

THE Australian Baseball League has helped launch a number of Major League Baseball careers but perhaps none bigger than Ronald Acuna.

After spending a season with the Melbourne Aces, Acuna is now the National League Rookie of the Year after a standout season with the Atlanta Braves.

The Venezuelan slugger played in Melbourne in 2016-17 before moving back to the US.

Acuna played 20 games, producing 27 hits, two home runs and driving in 13 runs in 72 at bats.

Ronald Acuna in action for Melbourne Aces. Picture: Dean Martin

After getting the call up with the Braves, Acuna accumulated some eye-boggling records.

Acuna is just one of five players in MLB history to reach 26 home runs in a season prior to his 21st birthday and the 10th player in MLB history to have 25 home runs and 16 stolen bases in his rookie season, the first since Mike Trout in 2012.

The young gun’s eight lead-off home runs set a Braves franchise single-season record.

Acuna isn’t alone having played in Australia before rising to stardom in the Major Leagues, with the likes of New York Yankees star Didi Gregorius and Tampa Bay centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier.