Ronald Acuña Jr. was voted the MLB player of the year by his peers as well as the National League’s outstanding player at the annual Players Choice Awards of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was voted the American League’s outstanding player.

Acuña made history this season by becoming the first player in the major leagues ever to reach 40 homers and 70 stolen bases in a single season. The Atlanta Braves right fielder hit .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases.

Other winners on the night include Marcus Semien, the second baseman of the World Series champion Texas Rangers, who won the Marvin Miller man of the year award for leadership and Phil Bradley, who won the Curt Flood Award for the advancement of players’ rights and devotion to the union.

The post Ronald Acuña Jr. Voted MLB Player of the Year appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a home run in his team’s 6-9 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night to get his season total to 40 homers. By doing this, Acuña became just the fifth player in MLB history to have at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.

Acuña is the first new member of the 40-40 club since Nationals’ Alfonso Soriano joined in 2006. José Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), and Alex Rodriguez (1998) are the remaining three players to reach the mark.

It is important to note that Acuña currently has 68 stolen bases, while neither of the remaining four members of the 40-40 club surpassed 46 stolen bases.

Acuña’s historic performance also created several new clubs. No one has ever got to a 40-50 or 40-60 season.  

“It’s pretty incredible, and just think of how many players have played in the big leagues, and my name is alone,” Acuña said. “But I’m hoping, and I’m sure someone will break that record, too.”

Acuña is the favorite to win the NL MVP honors this season, batting a career high .337 and adding 101 RBIs. He helped the Braves own the best record in baseball at 99-55.

The post Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. 5th in MLB History to Have a 40-40 Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. has managed to do something in 2023 that no other player in MLB ever did. The 25-year-old hit a grand slam home run in an 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the only player in league history with 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in a single season.

“I feel privileged,” Acuña said after the game through an interpreter. “I thank God for letting me play the game I love every single day. It’s not just about me. It’s about my teammates and the fanbase. We all share this moment.”

To make it all even better, Acuña made the historic mark on the same day he got married to his longtime girlfriend, Maria Laborde. The wedding ceremony was reserved for his closest family and friends.

Acuña has been one of the best players in MLB this season, batting .338 with 30 homers, 63 stolen bases, and 83 RBIs. He is leading the league with 181 hits and 63 stolen bases.

With the help of Acuña, the Braves have become the most dominant team in baseball in 2023. They have a league-leading 88 wins and firmly sit in first place in the NL East.

The post Braves Slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. First in MLB History to Have 30 Homers and 60 Stolen Bases appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The fourth 40/40 season in the history of Major League Baseball will have to wait after the Braves announced that second-year sensation Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a mild groin injury on Tuesday night.

The Braves outfielder will finish the regular season with 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases in what has been an impressive second season for the 21-year-old phenom.

Acuña was taken out of the Braves’ 9-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night after experiencing hip tightness during the pursuit of a ball hit by Bubba Starling in the second inning.

The Venezuela native was then removed from the game as a precautionary measure.

While the groin strain is not described as being serious, the Braves and manager Brian Snitker have decided that it’s best for Acuña to sit out the rest of this week’s games in order to be healthy for the beginning of the playoffs next week.

Acuña will be an important piece of the Braves puzzle in the postseason as the team’s starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.

While he won’t be able to pursue a historic 40/40 season now, he should be healed and ready to go for Game 1 of the NLDS at SunTrust Park next Thursday.

The post Ronald Acuña Jr. Out For Rest of Regular Season With Groin Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

2019’s National League Rookie of the Year has a new contract and a guaranteed future with the Atlanta Braves.

Ronald Acuña Jr., who ran away with the award as the league’s best rookie at 20 years old last season, has come to terms with an agreement for an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with his team.

Acuña, who would’ve been a free agent after the 2024 season, will now stick around in Atlanta until at least 2026. The deal also includes two club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The Venezuelan outfielder was one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut in April of 2018.

In his standout rookie season, Acuña played in 111 games and posted a .293/.366/.552 slash line. He belted 29 home runs and drove in 74 runs for the NL East-winning Braves.

Acuña hit his first home run of the 2019 season in Atlanta’s Monday night 8-0 win over the Cubs.

The deal is the most valuable contract extension in the history of MLB for a player aged 21 or under.

The post Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. Agree to 8-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was voted the MLB player of the year by his peers as well as the National League’s outstanding player at the annual Players Choice Awards of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was voted the American League’s outstanding player.

Acuña made history this season by becoming the first player in the major leagues ever to reach 40 homers and 70 stolen bases in a single season. The Atlanta Braves right fielder hit .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases.

Other winners on the night include Marcus Semien, the second baseman of the World Series champion Texas Rangers, who won the Marvin Miller man of the year award for leadership and Phil Bradley, who won the Curt Flood Award for the advancement of players’ rights and devotion to the union.

The post Ronald Acuña Jr. Voted MLB Player of the Year appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a home run in his team’s 6-9 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night to get his season total to 40 homers. By doing this, Acuña became just the fifth player in MLB history to have at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.

Acuña is the first new member of the 40-40 club since Nationals’ Alfonso Soriano joined in 2006. José Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), and Alex Rodriguez (1998) are the remaining three players to reach the mark.

It is important to note that Acuña currently has 68 stolen bases, while neither of the remaining four members of the 40-40 club surpassed 46 stolen bases.

Acuña’s historic performance also created several new clubs. No one has ever got to a 40-50 or 40-60 season.  

“It’s pretty incredible, and just think of how many players have played in the big leagues, and my name is alone,” Acuña said. “But I’m hoping, and I’m sure someone will break that record, too.”

Acuña is the favorite to win the NL MVP honors this season, batting a career high .337 and adding 101 RBIs. He helped the Braves own the best record in baseball at 99-55.

The post Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. 5th in MLB History to Have a 40-40 Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. has managed to do something in 2023 that no other player in MLB ever did. The 25-year-old hit a grand slam home run in an 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the only player in league history with 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in a single season.

“I feel privileged,” Acuña said after the game through an interpreter. “I thank God for letting me play the game I love every single day. It’s not just about me. It’s about my teammates and the fanbase. We all share this moment.”

To make it all even better, Acuña made the historic mark on the same day he got married to his longtime girlfriend, Maria Laborde. The wedding ceremony was reserved for his closest family and friends.

Acuña has been one of the best players in MLB this season, batting .338 with 30 homers, 63 stolen bases, and 83 RBIs. He is leading the league with 181 hits and 63 stolen bases.

With the help of Acuña, the Braves have become the most dominant team in baseball in 2023. They have a league-leading 88 wins and firmly sit in first place in the NL East.

The post Braves Slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. First in MLB History to Have 30 Homers and 60 Stolen Bases appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The fourth 40/40 season in the history of Major League Baseball will have to wait after the Braves announced that second-year sensation Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a mild groin injury on Tuesday night.

The Braves outfielder will finish the regular season with 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases in what has been an impressive second season for the 21-year-old phenom.

Acuña was taken out of the Braves’ 9-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night after experiencing hip tightness during the pursuit of a ball hit by Bubba Starling in the second inning.

The Venezuela native was then removed from the game as a precautionary measure.

While the groin strain is not described as being serious, the Braves and manager Brian Snitker have decided that it’s best for Acuña to sit out the rest of this week’s games in order to be healthy for the beginning of the playoffs next week.

Acuña will be an important piece of the Braves puzzle in the postseason as the team’s starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.

While he won’t be able to pursue a historic 40/40 season now, he should be healed and ready to go for Game 1 of the NLDS at SunTrust Park next Thursday.

The post Ronald Acuña Jr. Out For Rest of Regular Season With Groin Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

2019’s National League Rookie of the Year has a new contract and a guaranteed future with the Atlanta Braves.

Ronald Acuña Jr., who ran away with the award as the league’s best rookie at 20 years old last season, has come to terms with an agreement for an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with his team.

Acuña, who would’ve been a free agent after the 2024 season, will now stick around in Atlanta until at least 2026. The deal also includes two club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The Venezuelan outfielder was one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut in April of 2018.

In his standout rookie season, Acuña played in 111 games and posted a .293/.366/.552 slash line. He belted 29 home runs and drove in 74 runs for the NL East-winning Braves.

Acuña hit his first home run of the 2019 season in Atlanta’s Monday night 8-0 win over the Cubs.

The deal is the most valuable contract extension in the history of MLB for a player aged 21 or under.

The post Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. Agree to 8-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.