Former MLB Player Predicts Big Things For Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr. is off to a very hot start this season.
The Atlanta Braves slugger and former Rookie of the Year has already hit 10 home runs on the season and has a batting average of .348 with 26 RBI and an OPS of 1.042.
Acuna has also stolen 17 bases, and is showing off his speed.
This has led many around the game to speculate that Acuna could be headed towards a 40/40 season.
On MLB Network, former MLB first baseman and outfielder Yonder Alonso discussed why he thinks Acuna could ultimately end up hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases by the end of the year.
Does @ronaldacunajr24 have what it takes to join the exclusive 40/40 club?@YonderalonsoU says yes.#MLBCentral | @Braves pic.twitter.com/U12XOPb7Gk
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 17, 2023
The last player to have a 40/40 season was Alfonso Soriano in 2006.
That year, Soriano hit 46 homers and stole 41 bases with the Washington Nationals.
Alonso recalled watching Acuna during the World Baseball Classic back in March and took notice of the way he was running and swinging the bat.
He also pointed out a tweet that he made on Opening Day, when he predicted that Acuna would have a 40/40 season.
Alonso said he liked the energy Acuna was playing with during the WBC and felt as if something big was going to happen this season.
The former first baseman even got a chance to talk to Acuna during the Classic and asked the former of the Rookie of the Year how he felt heading into the 2023 season.
Alonso recalled Acuna making a very bold statement, saying he felt good about himself and that he was back to normal after dealing with the residual effects of a torn ACL.