Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna made history Wednesday night, as his two steals in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs gave him 70 in the 2023 season. He is the first player in MLB history to steal 70 bases and hit 40 home runs in a single season.

“Very happy, mostly that we were able to win,” Acuña said through an interpreter after the game. “I’m extremely happy to have created the 40-70 club.”

Acuna’s record-breaking season has been at the forefront of an equally staggering year for the Braves’ offense as a whole. With 303 combined home runs as of Sept. 27, the team is closing in quickly on the all-time record of 307 set by the Minnesota Twins in the notorious juiced-ball 2019 season. Atlanta has four games left to break the record.

Despite hitting 41 home runs, Acuna is not even the best home run hitter on his team, as first baseman Matt Olson has 53. Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley are not far beyond with 37 each. In total, seven batters have more than 20 home runs.

Behind the efforts of Acuna and others, the Braves have already clinched the first seed in the MLB Playoffs and are the current favorites to win the World Series. When the team clinched the NL East division earlier this month, manager Brian Snitker promised Acuna as much this coming October.

“You’re gonna get to play in the World Series this time,” the manager told his player.

Since winning the World Series following a surprise postseason run in 2021, Atlanta have gone from young upstarts to perennial juggernauts, and with many key players under contract for the better part of the next decade, the team is expected to remain competitive for some time. Acuna’s breakout year after a somewhat slow 2022 season is simply the latest sign that the Braves are here to stay as one of the National League’s most dangerous contenders.

Coveted (now former) Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson grew up in the Atlanta area, so you would think a trade to the Braves would be exciting for him. Well, when news came down Monday that he’s going there in exchange for outfielder Cristian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers, and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, he called it “bittersweet.”

“I can’t say enough to the A’s organization and what they’ve done for me,” Olson said. “I’ve been here since 2012 so almost 10 years, my whole baseball career. It’s bittersweet leaving.

“I know Atlanta is an amazing place, World Series champs, my hometown, so if there was one place to go and leave here, that’s the place to do it. I’m excited about it. There’s a lot of good friendships here that I’m saying bye to, like I said it’s bittersweet but I’m excited about what’s to come.”

The 27-year-old was born in Atlanta and grew up about 20 miles north in Lilburn. He’s a two-time Gold Glove winner with a .252 average and .859 OPS with 142 homers over six seasons; last season he notched 39 dingers and 111 RBI.

“It is hard to overstate his impact on the organization,” said A’s GM David Forst. “This is the reality of our situation and why it’s imperative we get a new ballpark. Matt Olson is a great player and he will be missed by fans, everyone in the clubhouse, and those of us that had to deliver the news today.”

On the heels of a trade that sent him from the Oakland A’s to his hometown Atlanta Braves, Matt Olson has signed an eight-year, $168 million contract with his new club.

Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos phoned his new first baseman Monday after the acquisition and broke the news; a day later the deal was done.

To quote the nine-figure 27-year-old, it was a “whirlwind.” He added, “The stars kind of aligned perfectly.”

The deal runs through 2029 and comes with a $20 million team option for 2030 sans buyout.

The move clearly closes the Freddie Freeman chapter in Atlanta—a chapter that began with 24 at-bats in 2010 and culminated with the team’s World Series title last fall. Throughout, he totaled a .295/.384/.509/.893 line with 271 home runs and 941 RBI for a 138 OPS+ over 6,660 plate appearances (5,767 at-bats).

Olson’s pact is the largest in team history, surpassing… you guessed it: Freeman’s $135 million deal signed prior to the 2014 campaign.

He’ll make $15 million in 2022, $21 million in 2023, and then $22 million per for the rest of the contract.

“Obviously, I know Atlanta,” Olson said after the trade and before the deal. “It’s an amazing place, World Series champs, my hometown. If there was one place to go and leave here, that’s the place to do it. I’m excited about it.”

It was the first $100 million deal doled out since MLB’s lockout ended.

Pete Alonso was seemingly cooked in the home run derby, with Orioles slugger Trey Mancini tallying 22 home runs in his final round of swings that needed to be bested by the Mets’ power hitter. Instead of a loss, Alonso cranked out just enough home runs (including six in extra time) to become the third back-to-back Home Run Derby champion, joining Ken Griffey Jr. and Yoenis Cespedes.

In total, Alonso scorched 74 home runs, winning a bejeweled necklace and a cash prize of $1 million. “Being able to showcase that, and really putting on a fun display for fans, I just think it’s a dream come true for me because when I was young, my parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch this. That was one of the few nights per year I actually got to stay up past my bedtime, just watch incredible feats that you don’t see in a regular baseball game,” Alonso said.

Alonso was up against a host of strong hitters, who were also helped by a well-known hitter-friendly ballpark in Coors Field.

Many had hoped Mancini would win, as his comeback story from stage 3 colon cancer (diagnosed in the spring of 2020 – the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic) was a winner with fans. With every big fly, the underdog gained continually louder cheers from those at the event. “I’m still going through a battle, and there’s so many people going through battles still, but you can go back to where you were before. I feel great about my health and where I am and what the future holds, but you definitely don’t wanna take any day for granted,” Mancini said.

Sadly, the crowd favorite Mancini fell to Alonso in the final round. Overall, there were 208 homers belted in the derby, one of which traveled 520 feet – besting Aaron Judge’s 2018 record of 513 feet. Mammoth blasts were struck by Shohei Ohtani, Matt Olson, Juan Soto, Trevor Story, Salvador Perez and Joey Gallo.

“It’s just truly a blessing,” Alonso said of his incredible victory.