Why MLB's Youngest Star Keeps Pissing Everyone Off

Baseball Doesn't Exist
1 Apr 202423:25

Summary

TLDRRonald aunia Jr.'s remarkable baseball career is filled with highs and lows. At 25, he's an All-Star MVP, setting records and gaining fame for his exceptional performance. However, his journey is not without controversy, facing public scrutiny, injuries, and conflicts with teams and fans, particularly in Venezuela. Despite the challenges, aunia emerges as a dominant player, achieving historic feats and earning the unanimous NL MVP award.

Takeaways

  • 🌟Ronald aunia Jr. became an All-Star MVP and set unprecedented records in baseball, despite controversies and challenges.
  • 📈Aunia's rapid rise to fame started as a rookie, being the youngest player in baseball at 20 years old and breaking home run records.
  • 🥊He faced public scrutiny and was involved in conflicts with other teams, notably the Marlins, which contributed to his increased fame and notoriety.
  • 🏆Aunia's performance in the 2019 playoffs and his rivalry with the Marlins intensified, despite the Braves' eventual elimination.
  • 🏥Injury and recovery marked a significant part of his career, with a torn ACL in 2021 leading to a challenging season and public therapy.
  • 🎥Media controversies, including a mistranslated comment about Freddy Freeman, added to the complexity of his public image.
  • 🏆Despite setbacks, aunia returned to form in 2023, achieving historic feats like being the first player with 40 homers and 70 steals in a season.
  • 🗣️Public opinion fluctuated dramatically, with aunia facing criticism in Venezuela and from his own team, only to regain favor and achieve MVP status.
  • 🤝Ronald aunia Jr.'s family has a rich baseball history, with multiple relatives playing in the major leagues and minor leagues.
  • 🏅His impact on the game is undeniable, as he continuously pushes boundaries and redefines what is possible for players in terms of performance and attitude.
  • 🌐Aunia's story is a testament to overcoming adversity, both physical and social, to achieve success and recognition at the highest level of professional baseball.

Q & A

  • How old was Ronald aunia Jr when he debuted in Major League Baseball?

    -Ronald aunia Jr was 20 years old when he debuted in Major League Baseball in 2018.

  • What significant achievement did aunia accomplish in his first year in the league?

    -In his first year, aunia led the Braves to a division title, their first playoff appearance in 5 years, and became the youngest player in history to hit a postseason Grand Slam.

  • What incident led to a controversy involving aunia and the Marlins?

    -The controversy started when aunia was hit by a 97 mph fastball from Jose Ura of the Marlins on purpose, which sparked debates around the baseball community about the intentional act.

  • How did aunia's performance in the 2023 season compare to his previous seasons?

    -In the 2023 season, aunia returned to form after his injury and had one of the greatest seasons ever. He set multiple records, including being the first player ever to have 40 homers and 70 steals in a season, and was unanimously voted NL MVP.

  • What was the public's reaction to aunia's decision not to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic?

    -Aunia's decision to not play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic caused an outcry in his home country. Fans were extremely disappointed, and he was booed during a Venezuelan winter league game.

  • How did aunia's family react to the negative attention he received?

    -Aunia's family became targets of the crowd's anger, leading to a fight breaking out between them and opposing fans during a game. This prompted aunia to announce his retirement from Venezuelan baseball.

  • What was the initial reason given for aunia not participating in the World Baseball Classic?

    -Aunia initially claimed that his doctors and training staff advised against it due to his healing needs, but this was later disputed with reports suggesting it was his decision and he was blaming the Braves to avoid backlash.

  • How did aunia's relationship with his former teammate Freddy Freeman become a topic of discussion?

    -Aunia's comments during an Instagram live interview were translated and spread on social media, claiming he wouldn't miss Freeman and had friction with him. Freeman responded by saying he loved aunia and that there was no tension.

  • What impact did aunia's injury have on his performance and career?

    -Aunia suffered a significant ACL tear which led him to believe he would never be the same player again. His speed and performance declined, and he had the worst season of his career following the injury.

  • How did aunia's performance in the Venezuelan winter league influence his popularity in his home country?

    -Initially, aunia was welcomed back and performed well, but after his decision not to play in the World Baseball Classic and his controversial celebration styles, he faced backlash and was booed by Venezuelan fans.

  • What was the final outcome of aunia's participation in the World Baseball Classic and his relationship with Venezuelan fans?

    -Aunia eventually played in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela and reconciled with the fans. After a successful season and MVP win, his popularity surged, and the Venezuelan fans who once disliked him went crazy for his performance.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Rise to Fame: Ronald Aunia Jr.'s Unprecedented Journey

Ronald Aunia Jr.'s remarkable career began at the young age of 20, when he debuted in Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite early skepticism from several teams, the Braves' decision to sign him for $100,000 proved to be a lucrative investment. Aunia's rapid ascent to stardom was marked by record-breaking performances, including setting the record for the youngest player to hit a postseason Grand Slam. However, his early success was also marred by controversies and physical confrontations, particularly with the Marlins, which led to a public debate about his playing style and attitude towards the game.

05:02

💥 Turbulent Times: Aunia's Struggles and Triumphs

Aunia's career was filled with both highs and lows. He faced criticism for his perceived lack of hustle and his on-field antics, which often put him at odds with opponents and even his own team's veterans. Despite these challenges, he continued to perform at a high level, leading the Braves to the playoffs and earning a reputation as a clutch player. His personal life also faced scrutiny, with conflicts arising from his public statements and actions, both on and off the field.

10:04

🥊 Rivalries and Redemption: Aunia's Ongoing Feuds and Comebacks

Aunia's rivalry with the Marlins and their pitcher Jose Arena was a significant storyline in his career. Despite being hit multiple times and even facing threats of physical confrontation, Aunia used these incidents as motivation to excel on the field. His performances against the Marlins were particularly impressive, with numerous home runs and a high slugging percentage. However, his decision not to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela caused a rift between him and his home country's fans, which he eventually mended by playing exceptionally well in the event.

15:05

🏆 MVP and Legacy: Aunia's Record-Breaking Season and Recognition

In 2023, Aunia returned to form with a vengeance, achieving numerous historic milestones in a single season. He became the first player to have 30 homers and 60 steals in a season, and eventually reached the unprecedented feat of 40 homers and 70 steals. His outstanding performance earned him the unanimous National League MVP award. Despite previous conflicts with fans in Venezuela, his success in the World Baseball Classic and his continued excellence in the MLB won him back the support and admiration of both Venezuelan and Braves fans.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡All-Star MVP

All-Star MVP refers to the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game, a showcase event where top-performing players from each league compete against each other. In the context of the video, Ronald aunia Jr. is described as an All-Star MVP, highlighting his exceptional performance and recognition among the best in baseball.

💡Baseball history

Baseball history refers to the chronicle of the sport of baseball, including its origins, development, and significant events and players. The video script alludes to aunia's impact on this history by setting a milestone never seen before in the sport.

💡Ronald aunia Jr.

Ronald aunia Jr. is the central figure in the video, a professional baseball player who has achieved remarkable success and notoriety in his career. His journey, accomplishments, and controversies shape the narrative of the video.

💡Venezuela

Venezuela is a country in South America that is significant in the video as it is the home country of Ronald aunia Jr. His connection to Venezuela is highlighted by his status as a beloved athlete and the various reactions he receives from the Venezuelan public.

💡Controversy

Controversy refers to public disagreement or debate over a particular issue or action. In the context of the video, controversy surrounds aunia's actions both on and off the field, leading to significant discussion and criticism.

💡Injury

Injury in sports refers to physical harm or damage sustained by an athlete during play. The video discusses aunia's ACL tear, which was a pivotal moment in his career, affecting his performance and future prospects.

💡Team dynamics

Team dynamics refer to the interactions and relationships within a group of players on a sports team. The video explores the complex relationships aunia has with his teammates, including conflicts and camaraderie.

💡Performance

Performance in sports refers to an athlete's level of play, skill, and achievement. The video highlights aunia's exceptional performance, including his record-breaking feats and MVP-caliber season.

💡Fan reactions

Fan reactions refer to the responses and behaviors of sports fans towards players and events. The video showcases the range of emotions and actions from fans, from admiration to disappointment, in relation to aunia's career.

💡Media coverage

Media coverage refers to the way news outlets and various media platforms report on events and individuals. In the video, media coverage plays a significant role in shaping public perception of aunia and his career.

💡Personal growth

Personal growth refers to an individual's development and improvement in various aspects of their life, including emotional, mental, and professional growth. The video illustrates aunia's personal growth through his challenges, comebacks, and achievements.

Highlights

Ronald aunia Jr, at 25 years old, is an All-Star MVP and has set a milestone never seen in baseball history.

Aunia has been both celebrated and criticized, with his actions sometimes seen as ruining the sport, all within six seasons.

Despite being benched and publicly scolded by his manager, aunia has become one of the most beloved athletes in Venezuela.

Aunia's legendary status in his home country has led to controversy, including being called a traitor and experiencing attacks on his family.

A baseball analyst stated that if aunia was still pitching, he would intentionally hit him due to his exceptional skill.

Aunia's rise to fame began when he debuted at the age of 20, making him the youngest player in baseball at the time.

Despite interest from several teams, aunia was overlooked in 2017 and considered not good enough or too expensive.

The Braves signed aunia for only $100,000, which turned out to be one of the best investments in recent history.

Aunia's family has a rich baseball history, with multiple relatives playing in the major leagues and minor leagues.

Aunia's incredible performance in the 2018 season, including hitting home runs in five consecutive games, made him a household name.

Aunia's rivalry with the Marlins began with a controversial hit by pitch, leading to a series of incidents between him and the team.

Aunia's unique blend of talent and controversy has made him a polarizing figure in the baseball world.

Injury and personal struggles, including dealing with a torn ACL and public criticism, have tested aunia's career and reputation.

Aunia's return to form in 2023 saw him achieve unprecedented records, including being the first player with 40 homers and 70 steals in a season.

Aunia's unanimous selection as NL MVP in November was a testament to his comeback and continued impact on the sport.

Despite past tensions, aunia's participation in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela helped repair his image in his home country.

Aunia's story is one of remarkable highs and challenging lows, showcasing the pressures and rewards of professional sports.

Transcripts

00:00

at 25 years old Ronald aunia Jr is

00:02

already an All-Star MVP and set a

00:04

milestone never seen in baseball history

00:06

all while simultaneously doing his part

00:09

to quote ruin the sport of baseball in

00:13

only six seasons aunia has already been

00:16

benched and publicly scolded by his

00:18

manager already gotten in trouble for

00:20

wearing his hat wrong gotten in trouble

00:22

for wearing his eye black wrong the most

00:24

legendary player in his home country who

00:26

he is friends with at one point referred

00:29

to him as a crybaby Venezuela where

00:32

aunia is now one of the most beloved

00:33

athletes in the country at one point

00:36

called him a traitor booed him attacked

00:39

his family in the crowd and caused him

00:41

to retire and one popular baseball

00:44

analyst even said that if he was still

00:46

pitching he would drill aunia just

00:49

because he is too good and at least one

00:51

team actually did this they drilled ryal

00:54

nunia Jr eight times had a pitcher

00:57

publicly challenged him to a fight and

00:59

got absolutely absolutely owned by aunia

01:01

so bad it made him a household name

01:04

across baseball and this string of

01:07

incidents that catapulted aunia to

01:09

baseball stardom all started when he was

01:12

just a rookie he was the youngest player

01:14

in baseball at 20 years old when he

01:16

debuted in 2018 according to his uncle

01:19

just four years earlier the Royals

01:21

wanted to sign him but decided he wasn't

01:23

good enough at shortstop so they didn't

01:26

the Rangers were considering it but

01:28

decided his swing was too too long and

01:30

slow the Rockies were about to sign him

01:32

but then used the money to sign a

01:34

different Prospect and the Nationals

01:36

were close to a deal but decided he was

01:38

too expensive now all these teams feel

01:42

extremely stupid the Braves signed aunia

01:45

for only

01:46

$100,000 maybe one of the best

01:49

investments in recent history the other

01:51

players in his class who made millions

01:53

are nowhere close to aunia aunia grew up

01:55

in a small fishing town in a remote

01:58

Village in Venezuela with a population

02:00

of 7,000 people and only one baseball

02:04

field with this little people he grew up

02:06

playing mostly against adults who just

02:09

so happened to be related to him in fact

02:12

his grandfather played minor league

02:14

baseball in the 70s his father played

02:16

minor league baseball he has a cousin

02:18

who pitched for the Giants another

02:20

cousin who pitched for the Indians his

02:22

other cousin was a closer for the Blue

02:24

Jays he has another cousin who pitched

02:26

for the Diamondbacks his cousin Ali's

02:29

Escobar was on the Nationals last year

02:31

his cousin Mel Garcia plays for the

02:33

Royals his brother is a top prospect for

02:36

the Mets his other brother is a prospect

02:38

for the Twins and Reports say his

02:40

younger brother has agreed to a contract

02:42

with the Phillies he is 12 years old

02:44

this is legitimately one of the most

02:46

talented baseball families of all time

02:48

and all of them grew up in the same

02:50

small town in Venezuela with one

02:53

baseball field per capita this baseball

02:55

field might produce more baseball Talent

02:58

than anywhere on Earth but it's in in

03:00

the middle of nowhere and aunia was

03:02

overlooked in 2017 he was only ranked

03:04

the 17th best Prospect in the Braves

03:08

organization alone a year later he was

03:11

the second best Prospect in baseball

03:13

behind only sh Otani he was called up in

03:16

April and almost immediately did

03:18

something that got the League's

03:20

attention and started a war after the

03:23

All-Star break he went on an

03:25

unbelievable run on August 11th he

03:27

homered against the Brewers the very

03:29

next day he homered again the very next

03:32

day he let off the game and hit another

03:36

home run later that same day in the

03:39

second game of the double header he hit

03:41

another leadoff Homer becoming the

03:44

fourth player in M's 100 plus year

03:47

history to hit two leadoff homers on the

03:50

same day the very next day auna let off

03:54

the game again and hit another Homer

03:58

making him the youngest player ever to

04:01

Homer in five consecutive games then

04:04

that very same game in the seventh

04:06

inning he hit another home run aunia was

04:09

on a stretch where he hit eight home

04:12

runs in eight games he had hit a home

04:14

run in his last five games in a row and

04:17

was on a streak where he hit a home run

04:19

to lead off a game in three straight

04:22

games one leadoff home run shy of the

04:24

record at 20 years old aunia became the

04:27

story of MLB as the entire league was

04:30

watching to see if he could tie the

04:32

record and hit a leadoff home run in

04:35

four straight games the Marlins weren't

04:37

as excited about this record and as the

04:39

entire baseball World watched to see if

04:41

Ronald aunia could hit another leadoff

04:43

home run and make baseball history the

04:46

Marlins did this and he got smoked on

04:49

the very first pitch Jose Ura threw a 97

04:53

mph fast ball directly at aun's elbow

04:56

the fastest pitch he thrown to open a

04:58

game in his career it was obviously

05:01

intentional and done just because aunia

05:05

was hitting too many home runs the

05:06

Braves cleared the benches aunia had to

05:09

exit the game and a debate sparked

05:12

around baseball some people argued Akuna

05:14

getting hit was just part of the game

05:16

but people like Freddy Freeman called

05:18

urania gutless ESPN called for him to be

05:21

suspended for 20 games Rich Eisen wanted

05:23

him suspended for the rest of the year

05:25

even urania's own manager said he

05:27

shouldn't have hit aunia on purpose

05:29

while other people like Keith Hernandez

05:31

said the Marlins had to hit him and if

05:33

he was pitching he would do the same

05:34

thing aun's elbow ended up being fine

05:37

and only 8 days later he faced the

05:39

Marlins again and the very first chance

05:41

he got he hit another home run stared at

05:45

it flipped his Bat and ran around the

05:48

bases three Innings later when aunia

05:50

came back to the plate the Marlins hit

05:53

him again aunia was okay and this did

05:55

not lead to any immediate fight between

05:57

the two teams but this hit by by pitch

06:00

ensured that the aunia and Marlins beef

06:03

was far from over in the meantime this

06:05

incident made him a household name in

06:07

the baseball world and so did his play

06:09

he was 20 years old was rookie the year

06:11

led a Braves team who was picked to

06:13

finish fourth to a division title

06:15

earning their first playoff appearance

06:17

in 5 years and in game three of the nlds

06:21

Walker bu threw this

06:25

pitch well above the Zone aunia started

06:28

walking to First but the Umpire somehow

06:32

called this a strike this should have

06:33

been ball four and it should have been

06:35

another run for the Braves but instead

06:38

Akuna had to keep hitting and a pitch

06:42

later

06:47

left aunia became the youngest player in

06:50

history to hit a postseason Grand Slam

06:52

beating Mickey manel's record after the

06:54

game admitting he didn't even know who

06:56

Mickey Manel was the Braves were

06:58

eliminated but aunia had established

07:00

himself as the team's future going into

07:03

2019 where he performed to his

07:06

expectations but also rubbed a ton of

07:09

people the wrong way as a rookie aunia

07:11

wore his hat to a press conference

07:13

sideways which reportedly caused a quote

07:16

firestorm in the organization and the

07:18

Braves made aunia start wearing his hat

07:21

correctly aunia says he was scolded

07:23

after his first ever Major League home

07:25

run for watching the ball too long that

07:28

year he was scrutinized for not hustling

07:30

he hit this ball thought it was a homer

07:33

realized it wasn't a homer but by the

07:35

time he started running it was too late

07:37

and only got a single aunia was benched

07:40

for this and admitted he was wrong for

07:42

baseball purist aunia was building a

07:45

reputation of being a cocky young player

07:47

who didn't respect the game and this put

07:50

a Target on his back especially against

07:53

the Marlins and nearly a year after

07:55

getting hit by Jose ARA aunia faced him

07:58

again and on a 3-2 count he made the

08:01

Marlins pay again carried his Bat all

08:05

the way to First threw it over his

08:07

shoulder and accelerated around the

08:09

bases aunia had got his revenge since

08:12

being hit the Braves responded by

08:14

hitting Brian Anderson they face Aria

08:16

again and also threw at him Kevin Gosman

08:19

got ejected for this and now with aun's

08:22

bat flip the Marlins wanted more Revenge

08:26

so a few months later when they met

08:28

again on the very first pitch of the

08:30

game they nailed Ronald aunia for the

08:33

third time Akuna obviously annoyed about

08:36

being hit went to First his manager

08:39

obviously piss to was ejected and his

08:41

beef with the Marlins would only get

08:44

worse from here but the Marlins were a

08:47

last place team the Braves for the first

08:49

time in years had expectations to go

08:51

deep into the playoffs and were relying

08:53

on aunia to do it in the playoffs he

08:56

went 8 for 18 with an Ops w well over a

09:00

thousand he was the Braves best

09:02

offensive player however this was

09:05

overshadowed by one terrible play in

09:09

game one aunia hit this ball thought it

09:12

was gone took his time getting out of

09:14

the box and by the time he realized it

09:16

wasn't a homer he was only able to get a

09:18

single once again aunia was caught not

09:22

hustling the Braves didn't end up

09:24

scoring went on to blow a 3-1 lead and

09:26

lost the game by only one run afterwards

09:30

his teammate Freddy Freeman called it

09:31

quote frustrating aie Albi said that

09:34

they probably would have scored if aunia

09:36

would have ran and multiple teammates

09:38

spoke out against aunia in the clubhouse

09:41

the New York Post even went as far as to

09:43

say he was helping to ruin baseball the

09:47

Braves ended up losing the series in

09:49

five games aunia finished fifth in MVP

09:52

voting at only 21 years old but much of

09:56

the focus was around his lack of hustle

09:59

his supposed bad attitude and the

10:01

celebrations that some people thought

10:03

were over the top obviously the Target

10:06

on his back got even bigger and when he

10:09

faced the Marlins in 2020 it boiled over

10:12

again but before we get to that a quick

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now the Marlin aunia beef was

11:39

reinvigorated again when he faced Jose

11:42

arena in September and once again urania

11:46

drilled him it's not clear if this was

11:48

on purpose or not but aunia who had been

11:51

hit four times by the Marlins alone was

11:54

once again upset but this time the

11:57

Marlins were no longer at Last Place

11:59

team they surprised many and snuck into

12:01

the playoffs upset the Cubs in the Wild

12:04

Card round and faced the Braves in the

12:06

divisional series 0 and2 in his first

12:09

playoff chances with a devastating

12:11

mistake the year before aunia was

12:13

determined to prove himself in the

12:16

playoffs and against his arch nemesis in

12:18

his very first at bat of the series he

12:21

hit another bomb and to rub it in

12:25

further flipped his Bat in the Marlin's

12:27

face the very next time aunia came to

12:29

the plate the Marlins once again nailed

12:32

him with a pitch this likely was not

12:35

even on purpose but aunia was still

12:37

upset reminding the Marlin's bench that

12:39

he'd been hit by them five times after

12:41

the game pitcher Sandy alcantra

12:44

challenged aunia saying quote if he's

12:46

ready to fight I'm ready to fight too

12:49

Akuna responded with an Instagram

12:51

picture of his bat flip in a caption

12:54

that read quote I'd like this chance to

12:56

apologize to absolutely nobody also

12:59

tweeting quote they have to hit me

13:02

because they don't get me out and aunia

13:05

was right up to that point the Marlins

13:07

had hit him once every 40 at bats

13:10

against other teams he had been hit once

13:12

every 80 at bats during this three

13:15

stretch aunia hit an insane 17 home runs

13:20

against the Marlins alone had a slugging

13:22

percentage over 600 as a team the Braves

13:26

went 46 and 21 outscoring the Marlins by

13:31

124 runs and in this playoff series they

13:34

swept them easily but despite all of

13:37

this domination Akuna and the Marlins

13:40

still were not done beefing the next

13:42

year the Marlins nailed aunia for the

13:44

sixth time it was also the third time

13:47

they did it on the very first pitch of

13:49

the game Pablo Lopez was ejected for

13:52

this and aunia got his revenge two days

13:55

later by hitting another bomb against

13:57

the Marlins this was his 23rd of the

14:00

year which led the Braves he also led

14:02

the team in runs stolen bases in almost

14:04

every offensive category he was second

14:06

in the league and War he was player of

14:08

the month in April he had a home run

14:10

then went into the field and made an

14:12

amazing throw to get this ball into a

14:14

fans cup he went viral for beating out

14:16

an 108 mph ground ball at a Sprint speed

14:20

of 31 ft per second aunia was breaking

14:24

out and at 22 years old he was favored

14:26

to win the MVP then in

14:29

Jaz Chisum hit this ball to right pitch

14:32

drives that toward Akuna who leaps and

14:34

can't come up to with it he lands

14:36

awkwardly on the warning track he's down

14:38

on the turn in the middle of an MVP

14:41

caliber season Akuna tore his ACL and

14:44

was in tears as he was carded off the

14:46

field according to his mother he cried

14:49

every day after this injury aunia says

14:52

he was convinced at the time he'd never

14:54

be the same he thought he would never be

14:57

as fast and never be as good he even had

14:59

to enter therapy to deal with his

15:02

situation that year the brave shocked

15:05

the world on one of the most improbable

15:07

World Series runs ever but Ronald aunia

15:10

wasn't there to play he hoped he could

15:13

return in 2022 and everything would go

15:15

back to normal but that ended before the

15:18

season even started right before 2022

15:21

Braves icon Freddy Freeman signed with

15:23

the Dodgers in an Instagram live

15:25

interview in Spanish aunia was asked

15:27

about Freeman's depart

15:29

shortly after his response was

15:31

translated and posted on Twitter

15:33

claiming aunia said quote I won't miss

15:37

Freddy Freeman that they had friction

15:39

that he was overbearing and wasn't

15:42

somebody he could talk to the

15:44

translation was spread everywhere but

15:46

aunia claimed he never said that but

15:49

more and more translations confirmed he

15:51

did say things around those lines he

15:53

said he and Freeman had a lot of clashes

15:56

saying Freeman and other veterans

15:59

apparently wiped the eye black off aun's

16:02

face because there was too much of it

16:04

and wouldn't even let him wear his

16:05

sunglasses on his hats cuz it blocked

16:08

the Braves Logo Freeman responded to

16:11

these comments and said he loved Ronald

16:13

and that these were just organizational

16:15

rules he had to enforce saying there was

16:18

no tension whatsoever aunia said his

16:21

comments weren't as respectful for

16:23

Freeman but didn't regret them saying he

16:27

signed with another team what should I

16:29

miss about someone on another team all

16:32

of a sudden Freddy Freeman versus aunia

16:35

became a massive topic aunia missed the

16:39

first month of the Season rehabbing his

16:41

knee came back and was not the same he

16:43

was not as fast he stopped stealing he

16:46

was seen limping during games his

16:48

offensive numbers decrease and he had

16:50

the worst season of his career then in

16:53

the playoffs more negative attention

16:55

came his way after he failed to back up

16:58

his center field Felder helping JT Ruto

17:01

hit a inside the park home run the

17:03

Phillies embarrassed the Braves in the

17:05

playoffs ended their season and ended

17:07

aun's least productive year yet that

17:10

offseason he went home to Venezuela

17:12

where he is usually seen playing games

17:15

on Sand lot Fields he grew up on pimping

17:17

home runs against locals but his

17:19

struggle to return from injury convinced

17:21

the Braves to allow him to play for his

17:23

hometown team the tiberon in the

17:26

Venezuelan winter league mostly made up

17:28

of young players in minor Leaguers it's

17:30

very rare for a player of aunia star

17:33

power to do this at first he was

17:36

welcomed back with open arms after he

17:38

put on a show hitting bomb after bomb in

17:41

front of his home country but all of

17:44

this changed in January when aunia

17:46

announced he would not be playing for

17:48

Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic

17:51

because his doctors in training staff

17:53

decided it wouldn't be good for his

17:55

healing need causing an immediate out

17:58

cry in Venezuela reports came out saying

18:01

the Braves organization never told aunia

18:04

he couldn't play the team's Captain

18:06

Miguel Cabrera made a comment hinting

18:09

that it was actually aun's decision not

18:11

to play and former major leager Alex

18:13

Gonzalez said aunia didn't want to play

18:16

because he quote couldn't take the

18:18

pressure people in Venezuela were

18:20

extremely disappointed in this decision

18:23

during his next Venezuelan winter league

18:25

game Akuna got booed and responded by

18:28

hitting a bomb had a ton of fun rounding

18:31

the bases talking smack and dancing

18:34

during a home run celebration that

18:36

lasted over a minute this angered fans

18:39

even more aun's family who was in the

18:42

crowd became targets and a fight broke

18:44

out between them and the opposing fans

18:47

in the middle of the game soon after

18:49

aunia found out and announced he was

18:52

retiring from Venezuelan baseball

18:54

altogether and deleted his Instagram

18:57

account this probably made things worse

19:00

Miguel Cabrera said quote it's good

19:02

aunia didn't play in our day he probably

19:05

would have cried Alex Gonzalez went

19:07

after him even harder on Instagram live

19:09

prompting aunia to respond telling him

19:11

his life in retirement must be tough his

19:13

numbers weren't good and nobody in

19:15

Venezuela remembers him aun's dad also

19:18

went after Gonzalez according to this

19:20

translation making threats and calling

19:22

him tough as a calf aunia complained on

19:25

Instagram that some players got

19:26

permission to play in the WBC and other

19:28

others didn't saying he was one of them

19:31

who wasn't allowed but the rules state

19:33

that teams can't prevent a player from

19:35

playing if they spent less than 60 days

19:39

on the injured list the season before

19:41

meaning that the Braves weren't even

19:43

allowed to prevent aunia from playing

19:45

some blamed the Braves for breaking this

19:47

rule many blamed aunia speculating that

19:50

it was his decision not to play and he

19:52

was just blaming the Braves so people in

19:55

Venezuela wouldn't be mad at him and

19:57

others even report that aunia was so fed

20:00

up with the Braves over this he was

20:02

requesting a trade Venezuela was mad at

20:05

aunia the Braves seemed mad at aunia and

20:08

now even Braves fans were mad at aunia

20:12

however it turned out this trade request

20:15

was completely fake aunia or the Braves

20:18

changed their mind and he did end up

20:21

playing in the WBC for Venezuela where

20:23

he and Miguel Cabrera seemed to be back

20:25

to being great friends and after the WB

20:29

he started 2023 completely healthy and

20:32

had one of the greatest seasons ever he

20:35

was named player of the month in April

20:37

aunia who was concerned he would never

20:39

be able to run the same again tied his

20:41

career high in steals in June he the

20:45

first player ever to hit 20 homers and

20:47

steal 40 bases before the allstar break

20:50

he was relentless on the base pass like

20:52

on this play When the Diamondbacks

20:53

didn't have a guy covering third aunia

20:56

got a massive lead leading pitcher Kevin

20:58

GLE to stare him down walk him back to

21:01

the base as they exchang words aunia

21:05

still wanting to get in his head refused

21:08

to get on the base likely due to his

21:10

stubbornness GLE immediately threw a

21:13

wild pitch aunia scored and stared him

21:16

down Akuna led the league in All-Star

21:18

voting and down the stretch found

21:20

himself in an MVP race with Muki bets in

21:23

August these two matched up in one of

21:25

the most anticipated series of the Year

21:28

hours before the game aunia got married

21:31

yes while on the road with a small

21:33

reception in Los Angeles aunia got

21:36

married to his longtime girlfriend a few

21:38

hours later he hit a grand slam becoming

21:42

the first player ever to have 30 homers

21:45

and 60 steals in a season as his

21:47

ex-teammate Freddy Freeman watched in

21:50

dismay Akuna went off for the rest of

21:52

the series pulling ahead of mooki bets

21:54

an MVP consideration getting so much

21:57

attention a fan ran onto the field

22:00

trying to take a selfie with him aunia

22:02

was happy to do it but security came in

22:05

trying to wreck the kid the kid wouldn't

22:07

let go another kid came running in

22:09

security tried to stop him accidentally

22:11

knocked aunia to the ground aunia still

22:14

tried to take a selfie with one of them

22:16

but they were both dragged away to jail

22:18

that night he stole his 61st base a few

22:22

days later he hit the hardest home run

22:25

of the year which was clocked at 121 1

22:28

mph off his Bat and also made a throw

22:32

that was clocked at

22:34

104 mph but most impressively he became

22:38

the fourth player in baseball history to

22:42

achieve 40 homers and 40 steals in a

22:45

season then became the first player ever

22:48

to have 40 homers and 50 steals in a

22:50

season then became the first player ever

22:53

to have 40 home runs and 60 steals in

22:55

his season and end of the year being the

22:57

only player in major league history to

23:00

have 40 home runs and 70 steals in a

23:03

season and in November he was

23:05

unanimously voted NL MVP he celebrated

23:09

this accomplishment by playing in a

23:12

Venezuelan winter league game an hour

23:15

later he hit a bomb and celebrated

23:18

around the bases but this time the

23:20

Venezuelan fans who hated him a year

23:22

prior went crazy