The legendary Atlanta Braves third baseman and Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones, finds himself in absolute awe of Ronald Acuna Jr.’s stunning MVP-caliber performance this season.

 

Harkening back to his own remarkable achievements when he clinched the NL MVP award in 1999 with 45 home runs and 25 stolen bases, Jones is now witnessing Acuna’s meteoric rise. With 39 home runs and an astonishing 67 stolen bases to his name, Acuna has consistently dazzled fans and experts alike, leaving no doubt about his candidacy for the 2023 MVP award, and there are still 10 games left in the MLB season.

 

Following Acuna’s electrifying display, where he smacked two home runs during the Braves’ dominant 9-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, Chipper Jones couldn’t help but express his admiration. In a conversation with The Athletic’s David O’Brien, Jones conveyed the sentiment that every time Acuna steps onto the field, there’s an anticipation of witnessing something extraordinary.

 

“It’s pretty special. You come to the park every day thinking he’s going to do something unbelievable. And whether it’s a home run that only goes 420 but it only gets 15 feet off the ground, or a ball that goes 470 feet, or, you know, you don’t want to pitch to him, he could steal three or four bags every night if he wanted to. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Jones remarked on Wednesday.

 

With unwavering conviction, Jones added, “That’s why I think they should have already mailed the (MVP) plaque to his house.”