In a historic moment, Ronald Acuña Jr. has become the first player to join the 30-60 club. This remarkable achievement was made even more special as he got married on the same day. Acuña revealed that he kept this surprise to himself, not mentioning it to anyone. His teammates, including Kevin Pillar and Michael Harris II, jokingly wondered if their wedding invitations got lost in the mail. But they have all witnessed Acuña’s incredible talent firsthand, and he did not disappoint in helping the Braves secure an 8-7 victory over the Dodgers.
Acuña’s grand slam in the second inning solidified his place in history, making him the first player in both the American and National Leagues to hit more than 30 home runs and steal more than 60 bases in a single season. Just two days prior, he had joined the 20-60 club by stealing two bases. Expressing his gratitude, Acuña said, “I feel privileged. I thank God for allowing me to play the game I love every single day. This moment is not just about me, but also about my teammates and the fans. We all share in this.”
While Acuña’s performance was outstanding, Dodgers player Mookie Betts made it clear that he wasn’t focused on competing against Acuña specifically. “I’m playing against the Braves. We’re trying to beat the Braves,” Betts stated. However, this series between the Braves and Dodgers could determine which team earns home-field advantage in the NL postseason. Currently, the Braves hold a five-game lead over the Dodgers for the best record in the NL with 29 games remaining.
Acuña’s early grand slam off Dodgers starter Lance Lynn helped the Braves establish a 6-1 lead. The Braves’ Spencer Strider pitched impressively, but he allowed one of Betts’ two home runs in the fifth inning. Despite Betts’ contribution, the Braves managed to secure only their fourth win in their last 16 games at Dodger Stadium, including postseason games dating back to 2018.
In addition to Acuña’s grand slam, Austin Riley and Michael Harris also hit home runs during the game. Acuña currently has 30 home runs and 62 stolen bases with one month of games remaining. He has a chance to achieve a rare 40-40 season, a feat accomplished only four times in MLB history. Acuña was close to joining this elite club in 2019 when he hit a career-high 41 home runs at just 21 years old.
Reflecting on Acuña’s milestone, Harris commented, “If they said anybody would do it, I knew it’d be Ronnie. It’s kind of crazy that he got married and became the first player in history to do that on the same day. It’s a pretty big day for him.”
After their game against the Rockies, Acuña and the Braves traveled to Los Angeles. Despite the late arrival, Acuña managed to get a few hours of sleep before going to a ranch outside of town, where he and his wife, Maria, got married. The timing of the wedding was crucial as Maria’s visa required her to leave the United States soon, and if she had left, she wouldn’t have been able to return for three months, missing the postseason. Acuña expressed his hopes for his growing family, saying, “We have such a beautiful family with two young boys. I pray that we can stay healthy and continue to grow together.”
This special day will always be remembered by Acuña, and it was fittingly ended by Raisel Iglesias, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Iglesias was motivated to close out the game with a victory, feeling that this beautiful moment deserved a celebratory ending.
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