Mets’ Luisangel Acuña Faces Mysterious Injury After Shocking Hit by Pitch in Venezuelan Winter League Game

Mets infielder Luisangel Acuña’s weekend took an unexpected turn during a Venezuelan Winter League matchup. The young gun, suiting up for Cardenales de Lara, had to exit in the fourth inning after a fastball from Tiburones de La Guaira’s Eduardo Paredes nailed him square on the forearm. With the bases juiced — runners at first and second — things were getting tense. Acuña hit the deck, clearly rattled by the 88-mph shot, and despite trying to brush it off, eventually needed trainers to get him settled. The Cardenales didn’t skip a beat, though, turning that inning into a four-run rally that flipped the score in their favor. This incident adds another layer of uncertainty surrounding Acuña’s trajectory with the Mets — especially after a challenging 2025 campaign marked by a stint in Triple-A and inconsistent at-bats. With a crowded infield and the front office signaling a readiness to shuffle the deck, his future in Queens hangs in the balance. For now, all eyes wait for an update on his condition while the offseason chatter swirls louder than ever. LEARN MORE

Mets infielder Luisangel Acuña left his Venezuelan Winter League game on Friday in the fourth inning after being hit by a pitch in the forearm.

Acuña, playing for the Cardenales de Lara, was plunked by Tiburones de La Guaira RHP Eduardo Paredes with runners at first and second base to load them. The 23-year-old fell to the ground after getting hit by the 88-mph pitch and tried to shake it off before getting help from trainers.

The Cardenales went on to score two more runs in the inning, capping off a four-run frame to take a 6-5 lead. They scored again in the seventh and then piled on four runs in the ninth inning, winning the game, 11-5.

There has not been an update on his injury yet.

Acuña is slashing .208/.391/.396 over 17 games so far this Winter League season. He’s hit two home runs and has four doubles with 10 RBI.

Of course, Acuña’s future in New York is a bit murky after a rough 2025 season. He played in just 95 major league games, hitting .234 with seven doubles, and was optioned down to Triple-A in August before finishing the season back in Queens.

Overall, Acuña owns a .248 batting average with three home runs, nine doubles, and a triple in 109 career games.

With a surplus of infielders on the roster, including Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Jeff McNeil, it’s very possible Acuña could be involved in a potential offseason trade. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear the team is willing to shake up its core, as they are reportedly fielding trade inquiries on McNeil and have made Brandon Nimmo available for trade.

¡Dramático momento! 🥵

Luisangel Acuña recibió un pelotazo del lanzador Eduardo Paredes. El pelotero de Cardenales abandonó el juego y su lugar lo ocupó Jecksson Flores.

🆑#LAR 3-5 #LAG🦈 | 4to inning ⬆️

Cortesía: 1Baseball

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