Ronald, Luisangel Acuna swap jerseys as they soak in long-awaited moment before Mets-Braves clash

ATLANTA — In a home clubhouse filled with Braves jerseys, there was one oddity: The enemy’s colors were on display in Ronald Acuña Jr.’s locker.Hours before Tuesday’s game, Ronald and Luisangel met in the media room at Truist Park, hugged and honored a long-held promise.As Luisangel worked his way through the minors, he and his superstar big brother envisioned this day and agreed that, whenever it came, they would swap jerseys.“Honestly it just filled me up with pride and joy,” Luisangel Acuña said, through interpreter Alan Suriel, before his Mets opened a series against Ronald’s Braves.

“That’s something that we’ve been talking about since I was in the minor leagues.”Luisangel estimated there were 15 family members in town to see him play in a 10th career major league game and to see Ronald watch, the 2023 NL MVP out for the season with a torn ACL.Ronald’s powerful and fluid righty swing has been missing since May, but Luisangel has ensured a similar stroke is seen around the majors.The Mets’ top prospect debuted on Sept.

14 in the wake of Francisco Lindor’s back injury and has not stopped hitting since, entering play batting .379 with a 1.228 OPS while filling in seamlessly at shortstop.The Mets lost their MVP and called up a player who produced (at least early) at an even better clip.In Luisangel’s mind, the entire Acuña family (minus Ronald) would be Mets fans this week.“They’re saying that they’re going to support me because my brother is not playing,” Luisangel said to laughs.The brothers enjoyed a mutual off day in Georgia on Monday, going out to dinner and Luisangel sleeping over at Ronald’s house.

The bonding continued Tuesday, when they hung out during batting practice and posed with several people, including Mets owner Alex Cohen.The boys grew up in Venezuela with a father, Ronald Acuña Sr., who played from 1999-2004 in the Mets minor league system and reached as high as Double-A Binghamton.Ronald reached th...