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Ronald Acuña Jr Becomes Co-Owner of Baseball United
The Atlanta Braves star has invested in the first professional baseball league to play in the Middle East and South Asia.
Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, announced today that four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and Most Valuable Player, Ronald Acuña Jr., has joined its investment and ownership group.
The Atlanta Braves outfielder joins nineteen other MLB Legends in Baseball United's ownership group, including National Baseball Hall of Fame members Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrián Beltré, as well as legends like Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, and Bartolo Colón. Acuña is the fourth player of Venezuelan descent to invest in the league, joining Felix Hernandez, Elvis Andrus, and Robinson Chirinos.
In addition to his ownership stake, Acuña will serve in an Ambassador role to promote the league, its teams, and events across his social media accounts as well as in person at designated events in the Middle East at the conclusion of the MLB season.
Acuña was quoted in the organization's press release as being happy that he has a new way to spread the joy of baseball internationally. “I am truly grateful to join the Baseball United family as an investor, co-owner, and an active ambassador to help grow the game we all love,” said Acuña. “It’s been exciting to watch what Kash, John (Miedreich), and the BU team has built over the past two years. They’ve done things that no one has ever done before. And now, I’m honored to be a part of it. Growing up in Venezuela, I always dreamed of making a big impact on the game of baseball. I’m very blessed to compete everyday with my teammates to do that for Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves, and I can’t wait to help carry the game to new fans in the Middle East and South Asia with Baseball United.”
Baseball United aired an inaugural showcase event in Dubai last fall, reaching over 200 million households with the broadcast and introducing the world to the six-run homer. The league is scheduled to announce its 2024 plans and expansion franchises this summer, with the first full season slated for the winter of 2025.