Albies and Acuña: Brothers in Arms

Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña, Jr. shared a moment in the Braves’ dugout during Sunday’s game. Cameras captured Albies and Acuña hugging while Albies caressed his teammate’s head.

Albies was openly expressing tenderness and possibly empathy toward his 20-year old teammate. Regardless of the circumstances, Albies and Acuña were in the midst of an expression of their genuine friendship.

Acuña “is like my little strongother,” Albies told La Vida Baseball earlier this season. “We love each other a lot. Since we were in the minor leagues we developed a great friendship, and it’s good to have him here in the major leagues. We support each other and we are happy when the other does something positive.”

Their embrace wasn’t a moment done for the cameras. However, it became the subject of a viral video on Instagram. It also became fodder for social commentary about masculinity, their shared blackness, and willingness to openly express their affection for each other. What was missing from much of the conversations is that the two young men also embrace a Latino brotherhood.

Beyond FriendsHIP

The dugout scene was very much in character with the relationship shared by the two teammates. Their bond started developing while they were minor leaguers, and it was evident during this past spring training.

They tend to each other’s emotional needs not just as teammates but also as young Afro-Latino men who are finding their way as they play professional baseball in a foreign land. Their bond – their relationship – comes from the similarity and familiarity of their backgrounds as young men embracing a dual identity.

Familiarity with each other’s background has influenced their relationship, as has their awareness of what they can encounter as young black men in a foreign country.

Latino Brothers

Albies comes from Curaçao, an island about 40 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. While part of the Netherland Antilles, most of the island’s residents speak multiple languages, including Spanish. Just as significant, many Curaçaoans have incorporated parts of Venezuelan culture into their own, such as food and music.

A number of players from Curaçao, including Dodgers closer Kenley Jensen and Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, have openly embraced a Latino identity.

Born in the port city of La Guiara, Venezuela, Acuña is a second-generation professional ballplayer. His father, Ronald, Sr., played eight seasons in the minor leagues and four seasons in the Venezuelan league.

The younger Acuña signed with the Braves in 2014 at 16 years old. Rated one of the top prospects in Major League Baseball as the 2018 season opened, the younger Acuña was promoted to the Braves on April 25.

Since Acuña’s arrival, he and Albies can be found hanging out in the Braves clubhouse and seated near each other in the team’s dugout. They enjoy conversing in Spanish, joking around and listening to music.

Basically, they enjoy acting their ages as 21 and 20-year-old, college-age kids.

Only 11 months younger than Albies, Acuña looks up to his Curaçaoan teammate.

“I am delighted to be able to count on Ozzie,” Acuña said. “He is my brother, much more than a friend. He is an incredible person. We are similar in many ways and he is someone I can turn to when I need advice. He is part of my family.”

Real Life

Away from the stadium, Albies and Acuña can encounter what it means to be young, black and Latino in this country. They have to learn how to navigate the realities of race in the United States with the additional nuance of being foreigners. Yet they also have to deal with the realities of life back home.

Life for Venezuelan players involves real concerns about the safety, health and well-being of family back in their native land. Inflation continues skyrocketing. Even if you can afford the cost, access to food and medicine is also a concern.

In certain sectors of the country, it is a challenge finding food and medicine to purchase even on the black market.

Worries about safety and security of family has led some Venezuelan players to move their parents out of the country to nearby Colombia or Panama. Some whose families remain pay protection money, as Miguel Cabrera admitted to having to do last year.

These real concerns weigh on a player’s minds, especially a young one like Acuña. The baseball field becomes a refuge away from these concerns. At such moments when these concerns invade that refuge it is good to have a friend like Albies to find comfort, support and solace.