In case you haven't been informed, Ronald Acuña Jr., the outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, is having a remarkable season with numerous home runs and stolen bases.
On Friday, this National League MVP contender achieved a rare feat by becoming the fifth player in MLB history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season. What's even more extraordinary is that he's the first player ever to achieve a 40-60 season, just as he was the pioneer in achieving a 30-60 season.
The exclusive company of players who accomplished a 40-40 season before Acuña includes Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), and Alfonso Soriano (2006).
Acuña came remarkably close to joining the 40-40 club in 2019, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 37 bases, which led the National League. This season, rule changes in MLB, such as limits on pickoff attempts and larger bases, have made it easier for him to swipe bases.
Even without these milestones, Acuña is wrapping up a season where he is in a tight race with Los Angeles Dodgers' star Mookie Betts for the National League MVP award. Their teammates, Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson, are also strong contenders.
For most of the season, Acuña was the clear frontrunner until a remarkable performance by Betts propelled him ahead in categories like WAR and several other statistics. However, Acuña has responded with a fantastic run of his own, with a batting average of .386, an on-base percentage of .446, and a slugging percentage of .807 in his last 13 games.
Currently, Acuña either leads or is virtually tied with Betts in most offensive categories. Still, Betts likely holds an advantage in defensive value, considering his versatility by playing second base, shortstop, and displaying Gold Glove-level performance in right field.
Nevertheless, with Acuña continuously making history, it's difficult to argue against him being the frontrunner for the MVP award at this moment.