Acuña Jr hits a home run, joins the 40-40 club
— Ronald Acuña Jr joined the exclusive 40-40 club on Friday, hitting his 40th home run of the season for the Atlanta Braves, in a season in which he has also stolen 68.
The Venezuelan became the fifth player in Major League history to have at least 40 home runs and 40 steals in the same year. He was two steals away from founding the 40-70 club.
“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “Honestly, going around the bases I don’t know if he was more nervous or excited. He is incredible. I thought about how many players have played in the majors and now my name is there, all alone. But I hope someone breaks that record too. “I’m sure it will pass.”
The others were Dominican Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals in 2006, Alex Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners in 1998, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants in 1996 and Cuban José Canseco of the Oakland Athletics in 1988.
“He’s elite company, for sure,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I’m glad I have a front-row seat to witness this.”
Acuña hit his home run off left-hander Patrick Corbin in the top of the first inning. It was his 34th career first-round home run and eighth this season.
The 25-year-old Venezuelan, one of the main candidates for the National League Most Valuable Player award, was already the only player in Major League history with 30 home runs and 60 steals in a season.
With the victory, Atlanta moved four games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bid for first place in the National League in the playoffs. The Braves have the tiebreaker over Los Angeles in their favor, a team against which they have a 4-3 record on the campaign.
Additionally, he added a double and three runs. He has hit in 14 of his last 15 games, with eight home runs and 15 RBIs in that span. His 143 touchdowns are the most since Rodriguez reached that same number in the 2007 season, when he was named Most Valuable Player.
“He is healthy,” Snitker emphasized. “He wasn’t last year, and he has been now from the beginning. I think this is a product of him knowing what he can do when he is well.”
