Ronald Acuna Jr. approaching more milestones

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna celebrate the Braves' sixth straight National League East title. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. approaching another impressive milestone, possibly more

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/13/23

As Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. continues his incredible 2023 season, the star is approaching a franchise milestone and potentially more.

The Braves clinched the NL East title in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, led partly by Acuna, who finished 3-for-5 with a run-scored batting out of the lead-off spot. Acuna's base hit was his 199th of the year, bringing him one away from becoming the 22nd Brave to tally 200 hits in a season.

Acuña is enjoying the boos in Philly pic.twitter.com/mtjfQqldVe
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 14, 2023

With 22 games remaining on Atlanta's schedule, barring something dramatic, Acuna will be the first Braves player since Ender Inciarte in 2017 to reach the 200-hit mark and only third since 1996 (Marquis Grissom).

Meanwhile, Acuna also swiped his 66th bag of the year, bringing him closer to an MLB first. If Acuna can record three home runs and four stolen bases down the stretch, he'll be the first player in baseball history to post a 40-homer/70-stolen base season.

Even if he doesn't become the inaugural member of the 40/70 club, Acuna is having a season the record books have rarely seen.

To put Acuna's incredible year into further context, he'll soon have a stat line equaled by only two players in major league history. When Acuna reaches 200 hits, he'll be only the third player to surpass 200 hits, 140 runs, 100 RBI and 50 stolen bases in a single season, joining Hughie Jennings (1895) and Ty Cobb (1911).

Acuna has rightfully been in the MVP conversation throughout the year. However, while the debate continues over whether or not Acuna's season is worthy of the hardware, what baseball fans should be discussing is where his year stands among the greatest of all time.

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