In 2024, the Atlanta Braves offense is primed to be among the best in baseball.
Like they did a year ago, the Braves’ whole lineup’s unrelenting firepower will help provide opportunities for base steals for every player this season. Some probable favorites who might top all of baseball in steals in 2024 were published on MLB.com.
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Esteury Ruiz of the A’s, and CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals were among the other favorites listed.
The only Braves player mentioned in the piece was Acuña. The most likely other name to come up would be Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris II. In 2023, he ranked second on the squad in thefts (20). With thirteen thefts, second baseman Ozzie Albies was third on the team.
Naturally, the first name listed in the story’s “Favorites” section was none other than Ronald Acuña Jr., the current MVP.
“Acuña’s speed isn’t what it was before his ACL tear in 2021, but that didn’t stop him from leading the Majors with 73 steals a year ago, in the process becoming the first player in MLB history to join the 40-homer, 70-steal club,” wrote Thomas Harrigan. “Knowing how ambitious Acuña is — he once said he wanted to produce MLB’s first 50-50 season, a goal that’s still in play for the 26-year-old — I don’t expect him to suddenly start running less just because he made history in 2023.”