Ronald Acuna Jr. achieved something that no player in AL/NL history has done before on Thursday night, becoming the only player to have 30-plus home runs and 60-plus stolen bases in the same season.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Acuna Jr. stepped up to the plate with one out and launched a 2-2 pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Lance Lynn deep into the bleachers.
In the middle of what might be the greatest season from a leadoff hitter, Acuna Jr. should be the surefire National League Most Valuable Player. He is trying to make the case that he is the best outfielder in MLB and has not even entered the prime of his career.
Slashing .336/.417/.573 with 30 home runs, 83 RBI and 61 stolen bases, he has also scored 120 runs on the season.
With the best record in baseball at 87-45, the 25-year-old Braves outfielder has been the driving force behind one of the greatest offenses in MLB history.
After a down season by his standards in 2022, while coming back from a torn ACL suffered in July of 2021, he has proven to be fully healthy and is looking to add some more hardware to his trophy case in 2023.
But Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts is also having a season that might be the greatest of his career and will give voters something to think about when they make their decisions on who the NL MVP should be.
Less than 30 games remain in the season, so look for Acuna Jr. to continue to go all out as he looks to build on an already historic season.