Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. makes history with 40th home run, closes in on 40/40 club
Acuna is just three stolen bases away from a 40/40 season
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. launched a two-run home run off Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola in the third inning of Thursday's division matchup. The team-leading long ball was Acuna's 40th of the season to go along with 37 stolen bases.
The 21-year-old is inching closer and closer to a historic 40/40 season. But with Thursday's home run, Acuna already has made history, becoming the youngest player in MLB history to hit 40 homers and have 30 stolen bases in a season. He also joins Mel Ott and Eddie Matthews as the only MLB players 21 or younger to hit 40 home runs in a season.
And, as a reminder, there have been only four 40/40 seasons in MLB history:
- Jose Canseco, 1988: 42 HR and 40 SB
- Barry Bonds, 1996: 42 HR and 40 SB
- Alex Rodriguez, 1998: 42 HR and 46 SB
- Alfonso Soriano, 2006: 46 HR and 41 SB
The youngster has followed up last year's Rookie of the Year season with another exceptional campaign, one which earned him his first All-Star Game appearance. With just eight games remaining this season for the Braves, Acuna still has a chance to post the fifth 40/40 season in history, needing just three more steals.
There's only been three MLB teams in history to have three players with 40 or more homers in a season. Acuna reached the 40-homer mark on Thursday, and teammates Freddie Freeman and Josh Donaldson have 38 and 37, respectively.
The first-place Braves already clinched their postseason berth, and the club's magic number for clinching the NL East was down to two entering Thursday.
















