NEW YORK — Ronald Acuña Jr. had been ready for this second.

“From the day I got to the league right away I always knew I wanted to be the MVP,” the Atlanta Braves proper fielder mentioned by a translator. “It’s always been a dream of mine and I’m living the dream come true.”

Acuña was a unanimous winner of his first National League Most Valuable Player award on Thursday, taking dwelling the honour after changing into the primary large leaguer with 40 homers and 70 stolen bases in a season.

Could he do it once more, and even grow to be the primary 50-50 participant?

“I’m not trying to predict anything, but as long as I’m healthy I believe anything is possible.” he mentioned.

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani received the American League award, changing into the primary two-time unanimous MVP. There have been 21 unanimous winners, and this 12 months marked the primary time two occurred in the identical 12 months.

Acuña obtained all 30 first-place votes and 420 factors in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Mookie Betts acquired all 30 second-place votes and 270 factors, adopted by Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Freddie Freeman with 227 factors. Betts earned the 2018 AL MVP award with Boston and Freeman was the 2020 NL MVP with the Dodgers.

Acuña was second within the NL with a .336 batting common and led the most important leagues with 149 runs, 217 hits, 386 whole bases and 73 stolen bases whereas hitting 41 dwelling runs with 106 RBIs. A four-time All-Star who turns 26 subsequent month, Acuña helped Atlanta to a serious league-best 104 wins earlier than the Braves misplaced to Philadelphia in an NL Division Series.

He set his profession finest for RBIs and matched his 2019 excessive for dwelling runs.

Acuña realized of the award whereas within the clubhouse of La Guaria, his group in Venezuela’s winter league. While he dropped off a scheduled nationwide name with BBWAA members, he spoke on a Zoom with Atlanta reporters.

He was on a doable MVP observe in 2021 with 24 homers, 52 RBIs and 17 steals in 82 video games earlier than he tore his proper ACL on July 10 whereas making an attempt a catch on the warning observe, an damage that ended his season.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to bounce back after I was hurt,” he mentioned. “There was some doubt I could do what I was able to accomplish.”

Betts batted .307 with 39 homers and 107 RBIs, and Freeman hit .331 with 29 homers and 102 RBIs.

Atlanta’s Matt Olson was fourth with 223 factors, and Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who received NL Rookie of the Year, was fifth with 165.

By ending fifth, Carroll earned $5 million. He will get a $2.5 million enhance to $30.5 million for each his 2029 and ‘30 salaries and likewise of his 2031 choice, which features a $5 million buyout. His contract, agreed to in March, initially assured $111 million over eight seasons.

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