Braves’ Acuña Jr. Continues to Make History With 40-60 Season
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the verge of accomplishing an unprecedented feat in Major League Baseball. After hitting two home runs in a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, Acuña is now just one home run away from becoming the first player in AL/NL history to achieve a 40-60 season.
Acuña’s remarkable performance has left fans and teammates in awe. Pitcher Spencer Strider, who witnessed Acuña’s historic season firsthand, expressed his admiration and gratitude. “I’m very grateful to have had a front-row seat this year to everything he has done,” Strider said.
Not only has Acuña demonstrated his power at the plate, but he has also showcased his speed on the basepaths. With his 67th stolen base, he is now just three steals away from achieving a 40-70 season, another milestone never before reached in the big leagues.
Teammate Ozzie Albies had predicted a 50-50 season for Acuña, but even he was surprised by these incredible numbers. Acuña himself admitted, “Now that we’re here, I didn’t think I’d be in this situation.”
While Acuña’s offensive prowess has been the talk of the town, Strider has also made a name for himself with his dominant pitching. As he nears the end of his first full season as a big league starter, Strider has racked up an impressive 270 strikeouts, nearly 50 more than any other MLB pitcher this year. He is also just six strikeouts shy of breaking the franchise record set by John Smoltz in 1996.
The Braves’ recent win against the Phillies helped put an end to a four-game losing streak. Despite the temporary setback, the team maintains a two-game lead over the Orioles for the best record in MLB, positioning them for home-field advantage in the World Series. They also hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Dodgers for the best record in the NL and home-field advantage in the NL Championship Series.
Acuña’s contributions in the win against the Phillies were undeniable. He homered on the first pitch of the game and later singled to kickstart a four-run fifth inning. In the sixth, he hit his 39th home run of the season and tallied his 100th RBI. His total runs scored this season lead the MLB at 138.
Acuña is now on track to achieve a rare milestone, becoming just the 19th player in history to record a season with 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 140 runs. The last players to achieve this feat were Billy Williams in 1970, Ellis Burks in 1996, Larry Walker in 1997, Todd Helton in 2000, and Albert Pujols in 2003.
Should Acuña surpass 150 runs, he will become just the eighth player in history to reach all these thresholds in a single season, and the first since 1937.
Braves’ manager Brian Snitker commended Acuña for his extraordinary season, saying, “He just keeps putting together some kind of special year.”
With one more home run, Acuña will secure a 40-40 season, further cementing his place in baseball history. Former player Alex Rodriguez holds the record for steals during a 40-homer season with 46, making Acuña’s 40-60 season and potentially 40-70 season even more remarkable.
As Acuña continues to make history, his teammates and fans eagerly await his next record-breaking performance.