What does the king of stolen bases mean to Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves)? Maybe it doesn’t mean much. This is because the batting performance itself is the ‘MVP mode’.
Acuna started as a right fielder in the 2023 major league away game against the Texas Rangers held on the 16th (hereinafter Korean time) at Globe Life Field, Texas, USA, 1 hit in 4 at-bats (1 home run), 2 RBIs, 1 walk and 1 point. This season, in 41 games, 160 at-bats, 55 hits, batting average 0.344, 9 home runs, 25 RBIs, 37 runs, 17 stolen bases, 0.436 slugging percentage, 0.588 OPS 1.024.
Bae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates) will race with Acuna to become the national league stealer. Bae Ji-hwan is chasing Acuna by three runs with 14 stolen bases. Tied for second place with Jazz Chisom Jr. (Miami Marlins). Acuna leads the National League with 17 stolen bases and is second overall in the Major League Baseball.
Acuna was silent for two games in a row after recording two stolen bases against Toronto on the 14th. However, there is no local attention to this part at all. It’s not that Akuna is the stealing king, it’s because it’s the National League MVP mode. In fact, it took first place in the MLB.com mock vote in April.
Following April, it shows the top-notch pace in the league in May. He had no bases in his last two consecutive games, but hit a home run in two consecutive games. He got over the fence and slowly ran around the bases, so he didn’t have to steal. As of the 16th, Acuna ranks first in the National League in stolen bases, as well as first in hits and runs, second in batting average, second in on-base percentage, third in slugging percentage, and eighth in home runs.
After debuting in the major leagues in 2018, he was evaluated as an outfielder with unprecedented athletic ability. He shows that in real life. He is digesting a 10-year, $124 million (approximately 165.9 billion won) contract with Atlanta, and it seems that he has entered his prime this year.
In fact, Acuna has never played more than 120 games per year except for 2019 (156 games). Durability was its biggest weakness. In the 2021 season, after playing in 82 games, he went to the operating table with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in July. However, he no longer has any durability issues after returning from this surgery and rehab.
MLB.com rated Akuna as 35 home runs and 67 stolen bases this season. His 30 home runs and 50 stolen bases were also Eric Davis in 1987 (37 home runs and 50 stolen bases) and Barry Bonds in 1990 (33 home runs and 52 stolen bases). No player in history has ever hit 30 home runs and 60 stolen bases.
Atlanta third base coach Ron Washington said, “What impressed me most this year is Acuna’s work ethic. He really cares about the details. He relied on his talent in the past, but now he makes sure his body is ready.” Director Brian Sneaker also said, “The greatest height is being healthy. He doesn’t have to play for numbers if he stays healthy. He is so talented that the numbers will come out as he plays 안전놀이터.”
Even Washington coach said, “Looking at what he is playing now, he deserves MVP. No matter what his numbers are at the end of the year, if Akuna plays like he does now, he will be on the MVP list.” Acuna was selected as an All-Star in 2019 and 2021-2022, and finished 5th in MVP voting in 2019. Challenge for the first MVP of his life.