Greg Fiume/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 22: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. The home run was Acuna’s 40th of the season. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
CNN –
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. etched his name in MLB history Friday night when he hit his 40th home run of the season and became the fifth member to join the exclusive 40-40 baseball club.
With his first-inning blast against Washington Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin, Acuña became just the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to join the elite 40-40 club – players who hit 40 home runs in a single season hit and stole 40 bases.
Oakland Athletics slugger Jose Canseco became the first player to display the rare combination of speed and power when he hit 42 home runs and stole 40 bases in 1988. Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants matched Canseco’s stats in 1996 with 42 home runs and 40 steals. In 1998, Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners hit 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases. Alfonso Soriano was the last player to achieve this feat when he hit 46 home runs and stole 41 bases for the Washington Nationals in 2006.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves is hugged by the team’s manager, Brian Snitker, after hitting a solo home run in the game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, September 22.
No other member of the 40-40 club has come close to matching the 25-year-old Venezuelan’s base-stealing abilities that he displayed in 2023. Through Friday, Acuña has stolen a whopping 68 bases this season, leading the leagues.
The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Star is making a strong case to earn his first Most Valuable Player award this year. Acuña boasts a .338 batting average and 101 RBIs, along with his impressive home run and stolen base totals.
Acuña’s Braves have the best record in baseball at 98-55 and the postseason begins October 3rd.