Ronald Acuña Jr. has been on a historic tear, and last month, he became the inaugural member of MLB’s elite 30-home-run/60-stolen-base club. Fast forward to last week, and he’s managed to establish a new benchmark: the 40-60 club.

 

However, that’s not where the story ends.

The Atlanta Braves’ sensational star took his 70th base of the season, making him the first player in MLB history to achieve a 40-70 season. This feat was accomplished in the 10th inning against the Chicago Cubs, pausing a tense situation for the Cubs, who are battling for a playoff spot and currently tied with the Miami Marlins for the third NL wild-card position.

 

In an odd twist, the Cubs had only themselves to blame after squandering leads in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, a day following Seiya Suzuki’s costly mistake.

Ozzie Albies, the next hitter, sealed the game with a walk-off single to right, securing a 6-5 victory. The significance of the win was not lost on the 102-58 Braves, as it clinched the best record in the National League, putting them 4.5 games ahead of the 97-60 Dodgers. In the American League, only the 99-59 Baltimore Orioles could potentially secure home-field advantage in a hypothetical World Series.

 

Ronald Acuña Jr., the leading candidate for NL MVP honors, has played an integral role in the Braves’ success with his remarkable season. While recent MLB rule changes, such as limiting pickoff moves and expanding the bases, have aided his stolen base total, his 2023 season stands out as one of the most remarkable power-speed combinations in MLB history.

This season’s unprecedented performance sets Acuña apart from other players who achieved a 40-40 season, like Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), and Alfonso Soriano (2006) – none of them reached 50 stolen bases, let alone 70.

 

With the top seed and the MVP (most likely) secured, Acuña’s next goal is to vie for his first career World Series appearance. The Braves will kick off their playoff journey in the NLDS against the victor of the wild-card series between the No. 4 and 5 seeds, the Philadelphia Phillies and (currently) the Arizona Diamondbacks.