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Atlanta Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. having extremely rare season

By David Hill

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes in to score a run against the Baltimore Orioles applies the late tag in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 15, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes in to score a run against the Baltimore Orioles applies the late tag in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 15, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is having a season so rare, that it has happened just once in the past 130 years.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is already taking a run at some impressive statistical accomplishments early in his career. He has become a master at leading off a game with a home run, making him a possible threat to Rickey Henderson’s all time mark. At just 22 years old, the Atlanta Braves outfielder has plenty of time to get to potentially chase Henderson down.

This season, Acuna is in the midst of a statistical feat that has happened just once in the past 130 years. Heading into Friday, Acuna had scored more runs (33) than he had hits (31) on the season.

To find the last player to qualify for the batting title and finish a season with more runs scored than hits, we have to go back to 1890. George Bone, in the only year that the Player’s League existed, scored 132 runs and had just 127 hits on the year.

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Interestingly, that was not the only time in Bone’s career he did that. In 1886, as a member of the Cubs organization (or White Stockings as they were called) Bone scored 150 runs with just 135 hits. He did lead the league with 102 walks to help inflate his run total that season, as his .434 on base percentage was third in the National League.

Bone is also one of three players to have another unique statistical accomplishment. He finished his career with 1327 runs scored in 1310 games. The other two players on that list also came from the 19th century – Billy Hamilton (1697 runs in 1594 games) and Harry Stovey (1492 runs in 1486 games).

Acuna is still a long way from reaching that trio. And the Braves still have ten more games to go heading into Friday. He may well end up with a more traditional stat line, with more hits than walks. But with just over a week left in the season, he could make history.

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Ronald Acuna Jr. has made an impact upon the Atlanta Braves in his short career. At his current pace, he could make his mark on the history book as well in 2020.

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