Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. is having an MVP-worthy season. The 25-year-old Braves right fielder is one of the key components of a Braves team that currently possesses the best record in baseball, but his contributions to the team are not the only thing work talking about. Individually, Acuña Jr. is having not just one of the best seasons of his young career, but a season that has him on pace to hit some pretty remarkable milestones.
During the Braves win against the Yankees on August 15th, Acuña Jr. hit his 27th home run of the season. That puts him on pace for 36 HRs, a pretty good number, especially for a leadoff hitter. But it’s the combination of that and another stat that puts Acuña’s season well above the rest – and on the cusp of history.
Right now, Acuña Jr. has 55 stolen bases, and is on pace for around 75. The only two players in history to hit over 30 HRs in a 50+ stolen base season are Barry Bonds and Eric Davis. And Acuña already has more stolen bases than Bonds and Davis hit in their 30+ HR season. That means that with 3 more HRs, which Acuña is almost certain to get, he’ll join the 30-50 club, and likely lock up the National League MVP.
But Acuña could even go further. If he also manages 5 more stolen bases, a pretty doable number for a player who already has 55, he could inaugurate the 30-60 club. No one in history has ever stolen over 60+ bases in a 30+ Home run season.
There’s even an outside chance Acuña gets to the 40/40 club, 40 home runs and 40 steals in a season. He already has more than 40 steals, and with a month and a half to go, 13 more HRs is a possibility. But whatever record Ronald Acuña Jr. sets, he’s cemented himself as one of the most exciting players in MLB and a star fans will be following for years to come.