What was long expected finally became a reality last week. Ronald Acuna Jr. accomplished a feat that Major League Baseball had not seen before … ever. It should lead to the Braves superstar being named Most Valuable Player.

Acuna Jr.’s swipe of second base last Wednesday sent the phenom into history and should have solidified what Braves fans already knew, a Most Valuable Player award is his.

As if a 40-40 season was not enough and a 40-50 season wasn’t enough and a 40-60 season wasn’t enough, Acuna accomplished the unthinkable with a 40-home run, 70-stolen base season.

I can remember as a kid when the 40-40 club was unbelievable and exclusive.

Jose Canseco was the first to accomplish the feat in 1988. He smacked 42 home runs and swiped 40 stolen bases. Barry Bonds accomplished those same totals in 1996. Alex Rodriguez was one of the most impressive 40-40 members prior to Acuna. He finished the 1998 season with 42 homers and 46 steals. The most recent addition to the club was Alfonso Soriano in 2006, who tallied 46 home runs and 41 steals.

But Acuna’s totals exemplify the all-around greatness he has played with this year.

Oh, and he has done all of this hitting out of the leadoff spot. He is a threat to score any time he steps into the batter’s box. He is a threat to steal a base anytime he gets on base, which is a lot considering, entering Friday, he had tallied 214 hits and walked 78 times.

He is simply the best offensive weapon in the game today.

What may be most impressive about Acuna’s accomplishment is that it is probably not the last time that he reaches at least the 40-40 club. He obviously has the speed, as evidenced by his 29 steals in 119 games last year and 37 stolen bases in 2019. He obviously has the power, having hit 161 homers so far through 670 career games, pretty much the equivalent of a little more than four seasons.

Acuna’s biggest and only question mark has been his health. A torn ACL ended half of his 2021 season and cut into his 2022 season.  

Acuna has shown, when healthy, he produces in all areas of the box score. He has done it all year and should be rewarded with the MVP. End of discussion.