So a Bunch of Really Talented Outfielders Walk into a Bar and...

Order a couple of 40's???

Are we currently witnessing one of the greatest runs of elite outfield talent in Major League Baseball and not even talking about it? Personally I think baseball fans are being spoiled by the amount of overall talent throughout the majors right now. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining at all. I love it! What I am trying to say is that we are sleeping on some of the incredible seasons that the league's best outfielders are putting up. Three of the outfielders I am going to discuss in this piece aren’t even being considered (realistic shot) for the MVP Award, yet they are putting up ridiculous numbers. Just take a look at these 5 players and their 2023 stat lines to date.

2023 Player Stats:

Julio Rodriguez (22 Yrs. Old - 2nd Year):

5.6 WAR | 30 HR | .289 BA | 98 RBI | 36 SB 

Corbin Carroll (23 Yrs. Old - Rookie):
4.9 WAR | 24 HR | .279 BA | 69 RBI | 47 SB

Ronald Acuña Jr.  (25 Yrs. Old - 6th Year):

7.4 WAR | 37 HR | .333 BA | 97 RBI | 65 SB

Kyle Tucker (26 Yrs. Old - 6th Year):

4.3 WAR | 26 HR | .286 BA | 104 RBI | 28 SB

Mookie Betts (30 Yrs. Old - 10th Year):

8.1 WAR | 39 HR | .311 BA | 103 RBI | 11 SB

Photo Credit: Statpros.com

Assuming some Padres fans will be mad at me for not including Soto or Tatis Jr. but I don’t care. These five guys are having spectacular seasons right now. Just looking at these numbers, an optimistic baseball fan can realistically dream of a season that includes a 40 HR -70 SB hitter in Ronald Acuña Jr. That alone is absurd and that does not even account for rookie Corbin Carroll’s potential 30 HR - 50 SB season! Julio Rodriguez was not good to begin the season and is looking at finishing the season with north of 30 HR’s, 100 RBI’s and maybe 40 SB’s. 

Kyle Tucker, baseball’s best kept secret, is on the doorstep of a 30 HR - 30 SB season. Finally you have Mookie Betts, who will have over 40 HR’s and 11 SB’s before the season is over pending no injury or crazy funk. The five players mentioned above are all doing really special things and it is making baseball very fun again. 

The haters out there are going to say that MLB rule changes helped to increase stolen base activity in the league and forever will point to that as an asterisk when evaluating the greats going forward but, I don’t care. Darryl Strawberry wasn’t facing Spencer Strider throwing a 98 MPH, 4-seam fastball with 11 inches of vertical movement when he had his 30-30 season.

Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)

Witnessing these performances got me thinking and something I started to look into recently is the 40-40 club. As Acuña Jr. is so close to being the next player to join the legendary club, I started to ponder who is in the club and who could be next? Something I did not realize is how rare it is to gain entry to said club. In fact, it is very difficult to do and 3 of the 4 players to hit 40-40 have been involved with PED scandals and are considered cheaters.

40 HR - 40 SB Club:

• Alfonso Soriano, Nationals, 2006

• Alex Rodriguez, Mariners, 1998

• Barry Bonds, Giants, 1996

• Jose Canseco, A's, 1988

Without PED’s the MLB is bearing witness to a few players who can potentially get to 40-40 at some point in their careers. Betts and Tucker are probably not realistic candidates at this point in their careers. Corbin Carroll may lack the power but, my goodness what a rookie season. Julio Rodriguez I’d say is the next best bet, that is if Acuña doesn’t get there this year. You also have Fernando Tatis Jr. who is an intriguing option but, who knows what his career will look like given the track record.

The point I am trying to drive home here is that we are seeing some remarkable baseball here in 2023. Players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Kyle Tucker, Corbin Carroll and Mookie Betts are all making that possible. 

Photo Credit:  Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo (Photographer - Lindsey Wasson)