Another Historic Look at How Insane Ronald Acuna Jr.s' 2023 Season Was
With less than three weeks remaining until the official start of the 2024 season, it's time to look back one last time at the 2023 season and just how historically insane it was for Atlanta Braves' star Ronald Acuna Jr.
Acuna Jr. put together one of the best seasons we've ever seen, fully taking advantage of the new rules to help aid base stealing and baserunners. He stole 73 bases, which was most in the league, and also hit 41 home runs to boot. The 26-year-old was an All-Star for the fourth time and won the National League MVP Award. He led all of baseball in runs scored (149), hits (217), steals, on-base percentage (.416), and total bases (383)
According to MLB.com researcher Sarah Langs, Acuna Jr. did something that hadn't been in more than 100 years of baseball history.
Players to lead MLB in SB & total bases in a season:
2023 Ronald Acuña Jr
1917 Ty Cobb
1914 Benny Kauff
1911 Ty Cobb
1909 Ty Cobb
1908 Honus Wagner
Though Acuna Jr. has been sidelined by a balky knee for some of spring training, he remains one of the favorites for National League MVP yet again. He also helps lead one of the best teams in baseball, as the Braves join the Los Angeles Dodgers as leaders in the National League clubhouse.
Atlanta won more than 100 games last season but was beaten in the National League Division Series by the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies.
They'll open the season on March 28 against those very same Phillies.
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