Ten days ago, Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s chase to join the elusive 40/40 club seemed far-fetched. Fast forward to now, and it’s more real than ever.
Acuña blasted two more homers last night in the Braves win over the Cardinals, giving him six in his last 10 games and 34 on the season. He’s officially on pace to hit 40 home runs. The steal aspect is already in the bag. He’s already swiped 63 bags and made history in his own way, becoming the first 30/60 player in MLB history. However, that feat, in my opinion, could be replicated in the future. Reaching 40 homers with 70+ steals has the opportunity to be a mark nobody will ever reach again in our lifetime.
With 23 games remaining in the season, Ronald Acuña Jr. needs just six more homers to make it happen. This is undoubtedly one of the most incredible seasons ever put together, and for those still arguing about the NL MVP race, put a sock in it.
I don’t care what WAR says. I don’t care if Mookie Betts has been a more valuable defensive player because of his ability to play all over the diamond. And I definitely don’t care that some made up BsR stat is incapable of measuring the type of pressure Acuña puts on opposing pitchers and defenses every time he reaches first base.
There’s no question who the MVP of the National League is in 2023. From the start of the season, Ronald Acuña Jr. has been the most valuable player. He proved that when the two frontrunners met head-to-head last week, and I have a feeling he will continue to prove it down the stretch. If you’re still arguing for someone else, stop it. Just appreciate that you’re watching a player do something that may never be done again in the history of the game on one of the best teams in the history of the game.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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