Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. joins elite list after blasting 40th home run

Bret Gibson
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 10:18 a.m. | Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 10:18 a.m.

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Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. follows through on a solo home run in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Atlanta. The homer was Acuna’s 40th of the season.

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Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. gestures after reaching second base during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Atlanta.

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Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. runs to first base after hitting a double during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, in Atlanta. Philadelphia won 5-4.

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Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. prepares for an at-bat against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Washington.

At a young age, Ronald Acuna Jr. has made history quickly.

Acuna, the Atlanta Braves phenom, hit his 40th home run Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies to join Mel Ott and Eddie Matthews as the only MLB players 21 or younger to hit 40 home runs in a season.

In addition to the round-tripper, Acuna is three steals away from joining the 40-40 club. The outfielder already has become the youngest player in MLB history to hit 40 homers and steal 30 bases in a season.

No. 4️⃣0️⃣

Ronald Acuña Jr. gives @Braves their first 40-home run season since Andruw Jones in 2006.#Braves | #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/k6EOhBQXoZ

— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) September 19, 2019

“Normally, home run guys aren’t fast. And fast guys aren’t home run guys. That’s what it boils down to,” Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Pretty simple. It’s a matter physiology and physics. And fairness, too, because no one guy should get all the gifts.”

There is it. HR No. 40 for Ronald Acuña Jr. He is the first Brave to have 40 home runs in a season since Andruw Jones in 2006. The #Braves lead the #Phillies 2-0 in the 3rd inning. Acuña is three stolen bases away from 40-40. @PaulByrd36 getting that CON??TENT?? @FOXSportsBraves pic.twitter.com/s6uh3lxMen

— Kelsey Wingert (@KelsWingert) September 19, 2019