Braves WBC Round Up: Acuña Gets Last Laugh, Alvarez Shines for Mexico The Atlanta Braves’ star players made headlines for their playful antics and standout performances during the early stages of the World Baseball Classic. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies engaged in lighthearted banter during a pool play game against Venezuela, with Acuña joking around after Albies failed to pick him off on a double. The two teammates continued their friendly rivalry on social media, with Acuña teasing Albies by tagging him on X with a message about a signed shirt. Albies has yet to respond to the joke. Acuña contributed offensively for Venezuela, going 1-for-4 with a walk and scoring two runs. He helped his team take an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, driven in by Luis Arraez, and later extended the advantage to 5-1 in the fifth inning. Meanwhile, Albies went 0-for-4, while fellow Braves player Chadwick Tromp, representing the Netherlands, struck out twice and failed to record a hit. The Netherlands are set to face Nicaragua on Saturday, while Venezuela will take on Israel later that day. Nacho Alvarez Jr., another Braves player, made an immediate impact for Mexico in their opening game against Great Britain. Alvarez hit a home run in the second inning, launching the ball at over 97 mph for a 394-foot blast to left field. The power play was followed by a celebratory pose, including a chest pump and a luchador mask donned after rounding the bases. Mexico led Great Britain 4-1 at the time of the report and is scheduled to face Brazil on Sunday. The WBC continues to showcase both competitive moments and off-field camaraderie, with the Braves’ players contributing to the excitement in multiple ways.#ozzie_albies #ronald_acua_jr #world_baseball_classic #atlanta_braves #nacho_alvarez_jr
