The Atlanta Braves’ Acuña Jr. is on pace for 40 home runs and 40 doubles. He’s also on pace to win the National League MVP.
Acuña Jr. started in right field, batting first, against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series at Truiste Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sept. 9. He went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.안전놀이터
With this performance, Aquino Jr. is now batting .334 (569-for-190) with 35 home runs, 90 RBIs, 63 doubles, a .585 slugging percentage, and a .999 on-base percentage (OPS) in 140 games. He needs just five more home runs in his remaining games to reach the 40-homer, 40-RBI plateau. In addition, with Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers sidelined with an injury, he has moved ahead in the National League MVP race.
Acuña Jr. was active throughout the game. After leading off the first inning, he reached on an error. He hit a 92.9 mph sinkerball from starter Mitch Keller. The ball was hit toward the shortstop, where Alyssa Williams made an error. Acuña Jr. reached base on the play.
In the second at-bat of the third inning, she drew a walk. She hit an 88.7-mph cut fastball from Keller for a single up the middle. Matt Olson, Marse Osuna, and Eddie Rosario followed with consecutive singles to bring him home.
In the top of the fourth inning, the home run came in the third at-bat. Leading off, Acuña Jr. swung at a 91.5-mph fastball from Keller in the middle of the strike zone. The ball was well placed and sailed over the center field fence for a home run. It was Acuña Jr.’s 35th home run.
In his fourth at-bat of the fifth inning, he got on base. With runners on second and third, Acuña Jr. hit an 87.1 mph cut fastball from Keller for a single to right field. With the runner on third, Akuña Jr. came home with the RBI.
In the eighth, he drew a walk. Stepping up to bat, he drew a full-count walk. This completed his four-hit game.
It was his 35th home run of the season. He needs five more to reach 40 home runs and 40 doubles. In 2019, Aquino Jr. hit just 41 home runs and 37 doubles before an injury sidelined him for the season. He’s on track to reach the milestone in four years.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, also highlighted his performance. “He’s on pace to join the 40-homer, 40-double club,” they wrote. With Betts out with a foot injury, Acuña has stolen the MVP spotlight.” Teammate Eddie Rosario praised Acuña Jr. Teammate Eddie Rosario added: “He’s the MVP. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life,” said teammate Eddie Rosario, giving him a thumbs-up.