Ronald Acuña Jr. reached base twice in the first two innings of Friday’s game versus the Nationals.
Both times, he stole second base – and the second was his 72nd stolen base of the season.
Acuña tied Otis Nixon for the most stolen bases in a single season in modern Braves history (since 1900). Nixon did it in 1991.
In doing so, Acuña added to a season that should end with the National League MVP Award.
“Every time he’s at the plate or on the bases, he’s adding to that résumé of something that we may never ever see again,” Kevin Pillar said. “It’s kind of hard to fully appreciate that because when you’ve just been watching all year, it seems normal for him. But it’s one of those things, you’ll look back (on) in four, five, six years from now. He just makes it look so easy.
“It’s just so easy for him. The game just comes so natural to him.”
Acuña is the first player to steal at least 72 bases since Jose Reyes swiped 78 bags in 2007. And before that, Tony Womack stole 72 bases in 1999.
The difference: Acuña also has 41 homers. He’s the only member of the 40-70 club in Major League Baseball history.
“The numbers kind of speak for themselves,” said Allan Winans, who started Friday’s game for Atlanta. “He’s putting himself in a class of his own. It’s pretty special. He’s doing something that no one else has ever done before, so getting a front row seat to it is pretty special, man.”
