A Historic Night for Acuña and the Braves
On Wednesday night, Ronald Acuña Jr. achieved something that no other player in MLB history has ever done: he joined the 40-70 club, meaning he hit 40 home runs and stole 70 bases in a single season. He also helped the Atlanta Braves clinch the top seed in the National League for the playoffs, giving them home-field advantage throughout the NL postseason.
Acuña’s historic feat came in the bottom of the 10th inning of a thrilling game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park. With the score tied at 5-5, Acuña delivered a game-tying RBI single that scored the extra-innings runner from second base. He then stole second base on the next pitch, becoming the first member of the 40-70 club. He celebrated by pulling the base out of the ground and hoisting it above his head as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The next batter, Ozzie Albies, drove in Acuña with a line-drive single to right field, giving the Braves a 6-5 walk-off win. The Braves improved their record to 102-58, the best in MLB and their most wins since 1999. They also secured the No. 1 seed in the NL, 4.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only team that could have a better record than them is the Baltimore Orioles, who are 99-59 in the AL.
Acuña’s Amazing Season
Acuña’s 40-70 season is unprecedented in MLB history. None of the other players who posted a 40-40 season — Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Alfonso Soriano (2006) — reached 50 stolen bases, let alone 70. Acuña is also the first player to have a 70-steal season since Jacoby Ellsbury in 2009.
Acuña has been a dominant force for the Braves all season long, leading the league in runs (136), stolen bases (70), slugging percentage (.657) and OPS (1.011). He is also second in homers (41), third in batting average (.335) and fourth in RBIs (112). He is the clear favorite for the NL MVP award, which would be his first in his career.
Acuña has also been a fan favorite, displaying his charisma and passion for the game on and off the field. He has been involved in several memorable moments, such as hitting a grand slam off Max Scherzer in his first career postseason at-bat in 2021, hitting three homers in one game against Boston in August, and hitting a walk-off homer against Miami in September.
The Braves’ Quest for a World Series Title
Acuña’s historic season has helped the Braves reach their fourth consecutive NL East title and their seventh consecutive postseason appearance. The Braves have been one of the most consistent teams in MLB over the past decade, but they have not won a World Series since 1995.
The Braves have come close several times, losing in the NLCS in 2013, 2017 and 2021. They were one win away from reaching the World Series last year, but they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Dodgers. This year, they hope to finally break through and end their championship drought.
The Braves have a balanced and potent lineup, featuring Acuña, Albies, Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley and Travis d’Arnaud. They also have a solid pitching staff, led by Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson and Will Smith. They have overcome several injuries and setbacks throughout the season, such as losing Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Huascar Ynoa to various ailments.
The Braves will begin their playoff journey on Oct. 7 in the NL Division Series against the winner of the wild-card game between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, currently Philadelphia and Miami. The Braves have a winning record against both teams this season, going 11-8 against Philadelphia and 12-7 against Miami.
The Braves are confident that they have what it takes to win it all this year. They have a star player in Acuña who can carry them with his historic performance. They have home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, where they have been dominant at Truist Park, going 54-27 this season. They have a hungry and resilient team that has overcome adversity and proven themselves as contenders.
The Braves are ready to make history of their own.
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