Are Acuña, Suárez Leading The Best Season Ever For Venezuelan Big Leaguers?

Ozzie and Tab posed an important question Friday on the Ozzie Guillén Jr. Show on La Vida Baseball Live:

Is 2019 the greatest offensive season Venezuelan players have ever had in the big leagues?

The two offered some strong evidence to support the rise in Venezuelan offense making this the best year ever. Led by Ronald Acuña Jr., Eugenio Suárez and Gleyber Torres, Venezeulan-born players are producing at a record rate.

Tell us in the comments if you agree or disagree. Are we watching the greatest season ever for Venezuelans in MLB?

Here are the numbers the guys discussed on Friday’s show:

Before 2019 there had only been eight individual seasons by Venezuelan-born players in which the player hit 40 home runs: Andrés Galarraga (three times), Miguel Cabrera (twice), Richard Hidalgo, Tony Armas and Carlos González.

Eugenio Suárez entered Friday with 45 home runs. Only one Venezuelan-born player has ever hit more: Galarraga hit 47 with the Rockies in 1996.

Ronald Acuña Jr. (39) and Gleyber Torres (36) could join Suárez over 40 this season.

Acuña has already become only the second player from Venezuela to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season; Bobby Abreu did it twice (2001, ‘04). Acuña has also joined only Mike Trout and Alex Rodriguez as the only three players to reach 30/30 in their age-22 season or younger.

Acuña has scored 119 runs entering Friday. Only four players from Venezuela have ever scored 120 runs in a season: Abreu (123 in 2007), Edgardo Alfonso (123 in 1999), Galarraga (120 in 1997) and César Tovar (120 in 1970).

If/When Acuña hits his 40th home run he’ll join Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott as the only players in big league history to hit 40 homers in his age-21 season or younger.

Before 2019 there were 106 individual seasons in which a Venezuelan-born player hit at least 20 home runs. There are currently 10 players from Venezuela with at least 20 home runs and three more within three home runs of 20. Not included in the list of players with 20: Cabrera, Jesús Aguilar, Elvis Andrus or Marwin González.

On Thursday Freddy Galvis hit a grand slam for the Cincinnati Reds. He hit a grand slam earlier this year for the Blue Jays. Galvis is the first shortstop in big league history to hit a grand slam with two teams in the same season.

Before 2019 there were 49 individual seasons in which a Venezuelan-born player drove in 100 runs. Eduardo Escobar is currently at 112. Suárez (98) and Acuña (95) could get there as well.

Before 2019 there were 69 individual seasons in which a Venezuelan-born player scored 90 runs. Acuña, Torres and Escobar are already at 90 while Altuve (85) and Suárez (83) could get there as well.

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