It started at a domino table. Ronald Acuña Jr. was hanging out with his father and his cousin Maikel García — all three from La Sabana, in Venezuela’s La Guaira state — when someone brought up Fernando Tatis Jr. Acuña’s response was instant: «If Tatis plays, we all have to play.» The video, posted by @YbraimCrespo on September 29, spread across Venezuela in hours.
Why the Timing Matters
Three days before the video surfaced, on September 26, the Tiburones de La Guaira officially introduced Fernando Tatis Sr. as their new manager. At the press conference, Tatis Sr. made no secret of his wish: he wants his son Fernando Tatis Jr. in a Tiburones uniform this season. Acuña’s quote is his direct answer to that invitation — if the younger Tatis shows up, he and García are coming with him.
The Trio That Would Change Everything
This isn’t just preseason hype. Acuña Jr. and Maikel García already shared a La Guaira dugout during the 2023-24 LVBP season, when the Tiburones won their first title in more than three decades. Both cousins then went on to lead Venezuela to its first-ever 2026 World Baseball Classic championship, with García earning MVP honors for the tournament.
Tatis Jr. closed the 2026 MLB season hitting .286 with 23 home runs and 35 stolen bases for the San Diego Padres — numbers that keep him firmly among the five best shortstops in the game.
And Acuña Jr. exists in a category almost entirely his own. He is just the fourth player age 29 or younger to reach 1,000 hits, 200 home runs, 200 stolen bases, and 700 RBI in MLB history. The other three: Mike Trout, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodríguez.
Put all three of them under Tatis Sr. in the same dugout and La Guaira would have a roster no other LVBP team could match — on paper.
What’s Still Missing
The key phrase is on paper. None of the three has been officially confirmed.
- Maikel García is under contract with La Guaira — GM Fernando Veracierto stated flatly that «Maikel belongs to Tiburones de La Guaira, he is not on the market» — but García himself had suggested he might not return before later clarifying he would play «for the people of La Guaira» if he plays at all. Magallanes tried to negotiate for him; it went nowhere.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. has not responded publicly to his father’s invitation, and the San Diego Padres would need to sign off on any winter ball appearance.
- Acuña Jr. has made a declaration of intent, not a signing announcement. The Tiburones have not confirmed a date for his arrival.
What Is Real Right Now
La Guaira already has more than 12 players confirmed for the 2026-27 season, headlined by 12-year MLB veteran Jurickson Profar as their top import and pitcher Luis Patiño. The LVBP season opens October 12. The Tiburones finished 27-29 last year and missed the postseason for the second straight time.
Acuña’s quote is the spark. Whether La Guaira has enough fuel to actually light that fire is the question the next two weeks will answer.
