August 31, 2023, will forever hold a special place in Ronald Acuña Jr.’s heart. This unforgettable day began with the Atlanta Braves outfielder exchanging vows with his long-time girlfriend, Maria, and concluded with a grand slam that led the Braves to a thrilling 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This grand slam carried historical significance as it marked Acuña’s 30th home run of the season, an accomplishment that etched his name into MLB history as the first player to achieve the remarkable feat of 30 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a single season (an impressive 62 stolen bases for Acuña).
One significant reason behind the decision for Ronald Acuña Jr. and Maria to tie the knot on this particular Thursday was the looming expiration of Maria’s Venezuelan visa by week’s end. Her visa’s expiration meant that she would have to leave the United States and would not be allowed to return for the next three months. Acuña and Maria are parents to two adorable sons, Ronald Daniel, aged 2, and Jamall, just 11 months old, and their departure would have been necessary had her visa lapsed.
Ronald Acuña Jr. emphasized the importance of family, stating, “We’re a family. Since we’ve known each other, we’ve wanted to be together. We have two kids. Family is meant to be together. That comes before anything else. I’m really happy that’s going to happen now.” It was a whirlwind decision as Acuña, on Wednesday, reached out to his business manager, Nick Drbal of Xample, to explore the possibility of arranging the wedding. Drbal swiftly secured a charming wedding venue, Whispering Oaks in Agoura Hills, California. The entire family, including Acuña, Maria, and their children, flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon. Despite Acuña’s arrival at the team hotel in Los Angeles at the late hour of 2 a.m., the couple exchanged their vows on Thursday morning. Originally, the couple had planned to have their wedding in their native Venezuela during the winter.
The significance of this occasion was not lost on Acuña, who expressed, “It means a lot to me. The kids were born here, but the mom needs to come and go. I don’t like that process. It’s really a hassle. If we go to the playoffs, if we go to the World Series, and they’re not with me, it’s tough. I want my family to be here with me.”
Acuña’s remarkable achievements on the field have played a pivotal role in the Atlanta Braves boasting the best record in all of MLB, standing at 88-45. With his history-making season, the four-time All-Star is firmly positioned as the frontrunner for the NL MVP award. This remarkable resurgence comes on the heels of a challenging 2022 season in which he managed just 15 home runs and 29 stolen bases in 119 games. His triumphant 2023 season follows a setback in 2021 when Acuña suffered a torn ACL, a year that also witnessed the Braves clinch their first World Series title since 1995.