Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mookie Betts Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ronald Acuna Jr. draws praise from rival in MVP race

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 9/28/23

Ronald Acuna Jr. may be on his way to winning National League MVP honors and his chief rival for the award seems to be on board with that possibility.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts showed some love to Acuna on Instagram Thursday, one day after Acuna became the first player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in a season. Betts shared a graphic celebrating the accomplishment, adding the comment “I hope y’all know how crazy this is.”

Mookie shows love to Acuña on Instagram pic.twitter.com/pDPD9lEosk

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 28, 2023

Betts has had a phenomenal year, but it is beginning to look like the award will go to Acuna. Betts is hitting .309 with 39 home runs while playing high-level defense, but Acuna bests him in most statistical categories, hitting .336 with the aforementioned 41 home runs and 70 steals. Even Betts cannot deny how ridiculous those numbers are.

Acuna has had a remarkable season in more ways than one. It looks set to end with an NL MVP award that even his chief rival is fine with.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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