Burgos: The unique bond between Braves’ Albies, Acuña
From SABR member Adrian Burgos Jr. at La Vida Baseball on August 4, 2018:
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 brother,” 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.
Read the full article here: https://www.lavidabaseball.com/albies-acuna-dugout-venezuela/
Originally published: August 6, 2018. Last Updated: August 6, 2018.