Six shots to go! Akunya Jr. takes on the great ’40-40′ challenge ~ing

Ronald Acuña Jr. (26) of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball continued his quest to join the 40-40 club with a multi-hit game. He already has 63 career stolen bases. With six more home runs, he’ll become just the fifth player in history to reach 40-40.

Acuña Jr. started in right field on Aug. 8 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Homered in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, then blasted his 34th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. He finished the season batting .331 with 88 RBIs and a .990 OPS.스포츠토토

Inflated 40-40 hopes for the fifth time in franchise history. Atlanta needs six more home runs in its remaining 23 games to take over the 40-40 hill. Become the first player to reach 40-40 in 17 years since Alfonso Soriano (46 homers, 41 doubles) in 2006. To date, he’s hit 34 homers in 139 games, arching about one every 4.08 games. At his current pace, the math says he’s on pace to hit just under six home runs the rest of the way. I need to increase my home run pace a bit more.

Only four players have ever gone 40-40 in the major leagues. Jose Canseco broke the record in 1998 with 42 home runs and 40 doubles. Then in 1996, Barry Bonds took over the baton with 42 home runs and 40 doubles, followed by Alex Rodriguez in 1998 with 42 home runs and 46 doubles. Then in 2006, Soriano became the fourth player to hit 40-40. Now it’s up to Acuña Jr. to break the record. 

Acuña Jr.’s home run and stolen base records by season

• 2018: 111 games, 26 home runs, 16 doubles
• 2019: 156 games, 41 home runs, 37 doubles
• 2020 46 games 14 home runs and 8 doubles
• 2021 24 homers, 17 doubles in 82 games
• 15 home runs and 29 doubles in 119 games in 2022
• As of 2023, 34 homers and 63 RBI in 139 games.

After making his big league debut in 2018, he broke the 40-40 threshold in 2019. In 156 games, he hit 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He was three stolen bases short of joining the 40-40 club. But this season, he’s already stolen more than 60 bases. Six more home runs and he’ll be 40-40. He could also reach the all-time great heights of 40-70.

Meanwhile, Atlanta defeated St. Louis 8-5 behind a multi-homer performance from Acuña Jr. The Athletics improved to 91-48 on the season, leading the majors in winning percentage (.655).