Bryan Acuña: Twin on the rise looking to follow in family footsteps – Minor Leagues

The Acuña surname has weight in the world of baseball. Ronald Acuna Jr. he’s already a household name, an MVP winner, and one of the most electrifying players in the game. His younger brother, Luisangel, made his mark as a rookie in 2024, helping the Mets in their playoff push. Now Bryan Acuña, the youngest of the trio, is forging his own path in the Minnesota Twins organization, aiming to carve out his legacy.

While the last name is an eye-opener, it doesn’t guarantee success. Bryan Acuña has shown flashes of the talent that runs in the family, but there are clear steps he needs to take if he wants to become the next great Acuña in the majors. The younger Acuña brother is only 19 years old and the expectations can be both a blessing and a curse. When your brother is one of the most dynamic players in baseball and another is on the rise quickly, comparisons are inevitable. Fortunately, Bryan has accepted the challenge, showing his eagerness to forge his own path while drawing inspiration from his brothers.

In his time in the lower minors, Acuña has shown solid plate discipline and impressive contact ability. The Twins had him play in the FCL for the second year and he increased his OPS from .553 in 2023 to .735 this season. He’s still not a power threat like Ronald, as he only had one career home run. This is one of the most significant question marks surrounding his development: Can he increase his power and add more offensive punch? As scouts have noted, his frame and swing mechanics suggest untapped power potential, but it will take time for him to reach that level.

Defensively, Acuña has moved around the infield, including playing shortstop, second base, third base and left field. Defensive flexibility is key for any outfielder to crack the big league roster, but it might be a bit of a concern that he’s already out of shortstop. In 2024, he was charged with eight errors on 69 occasions, double the 2023 total at shortstop. While a defensive spot is essential, it’s at the plate where Bryan will need to continue to prove himself.

He doesn’t have Ronald’s blazing speed or the same explosive swing, but he’s a smart baserunner with a knack for putting the ball in play. He has shown a patient approach (.423 OBP in 2024), something the Twins have emphasized at every level of their system. As he moves forward, Bryan must continue to refine this approach, making sure he doesn’t become too passive and miss opportunities to drive the ball.

Areas to improve
If Bryan Acuña wants to follow in his brothers footsteps and make an impact at the major league level, there are some key areas he will need to improve:

Power development: The biggest area where Bryan needs to improve is in adding power to his game. He has shown good contact skills, but as he continues to mature physically, the Twins expect to see him drive the ball with more authority. During his professional debut, he combined for 12 doubles in 43 games. Over the past two seasons, he has been limited to nine extra-base hits in 77 games.

Consistency on the plate: While he’s shown a disciplined approach, Acuña needs to prove he can handle more advanced pitches as he levels up. In his first season in the United States, he struggled with the transition to the FCL. In 40 games, he hit .185/.327/.227 (.553) with three extra-base hits and a 39-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His batting average jumped 70 points this season while getting on base over 42% of the time. Making adjustments at each level will be critical in determining whether he can translate his success to the majors.

Defensive versatility: Although Bryan has played both shortstop and second base, becoming a versatile defender could increase his value to the Twins. He was error prone at shortstop and third base this season. The Twins likely want him to continue working in middle defensive positions before relegating him to left field or another less demanding spot. With other middle infield prospects in the system, flexibility will be vital to carving out a roster spot.

The Twins have been patient with Acuña’s development, recognizing that it doesn’t have to be Ronald or Luisangel. His journey will be different, and he has time on his side to become the player he is capable of being. The tools are there, and if he can take the next steps, especially in the energy department, there’s a chance he’ll make a name for himself.

As Acuña moves up the organizational ladder, he will undoubtedly continue to draw comparisons to his brothers. But the real story will be how he can create his own identity. If he can stay the course, Twins fans could one day see Acuña’s name lighting up the scoreboards at Target Field.

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