Atlanta Braves reporter Mark Bowman believes outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. could be in line for a spectacular 2026 season and potentially become the first player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club twice.
Acuña, who turned 28 on Dec. 28, hit 21 home runs and stole nine bases in 95 games last season. The five-time All-Star did not record his first stolen base until June 13 — his 19th game back — and never had a multi-steal game.
However, Acuña did not make his season debut until May 23 while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. He previously tore his right ACL in 2021.
“There’s an expectation Acuña will run less frequently to protect his two surgically repaired knees,” Bowman wrote Wednesday. “So, instead of predicting he’ll match the 40-70 season he had in 2023, we’ll lower expectations and predict he will record what would be just the seventh 40-40 season in AL/NL history.”
Acuña is currently the only active player to have already recorded a 40-40 season, accomplishing the feat during his historic 2023 campaign.
What to Know About Ronald Acuña Jr. and the 40-40 Club
Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco became the first member of the 40-40 club with a 42-home run, 40-stolen base season in 1988. San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds followed with a 42-40 campaign in 1996, and Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez posted a 42-46 season in 1998.
Washington Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano joined the group with a 46-41 season in 2006. Soriano is the only player in club history to record at least 45 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season.
Acuña set a new standard during his 2023 season, when he stole an MLB-record 73 bases — well above the previous high of 46 by a 40-40 player.
A record seven players — New York Mets teammates Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cleveland Guardians third baseman JosĂ© RamĂrez, and Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio RodrĂguez — recorded 30–30 seasons in 2025. Soto finished just two stolen bases shy of joining the 40–40 club after hitting 43 home runs, while RamĂrez led the group with 44 stolen bases.