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Who are the last 5 Braves players to hit 40 Home Runs in a single season?

The Atlanta Braves have had some powerful bats in the middle of their lineup over the years. 40 home runs in a season is no small feat, so who are the last 5 Braves players to hit that mark?

By Chase Owens |
Los Angeles Angels v Atlanta Braves
Los Angeles Angels v Atlanta Braves / Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/GettyImages
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Power hitters is definitely NOT something the Atlanta Braves have lacked over the years. The franchise has perhaps the greatest home run hitter of all-time to claim, and the man this site is named after. We’re talking about the great Hank Aaron of course.

The power doesn’t stop there either. There’s the MVP winners like Chipper Jones and Dale Murphy who put a lot of souvenirs in the outfield seats. Then you have the 2023 team who is on pace to break the 2019 Twins single season home run record by a team.

This season Braves fans have sat in awe in the plethora of guys in the lineup that can leave the ballpark at any given time. This fun to watch power display got us thinking; Who are the last 5 Braves players to hit 40 home runs in a single season? The 40 homer club is pretty exclusive, but this year’s team has a few guys that could hit that mark. For now, let’s take a look back at five former Braves who are in that exclusive club.

Matt Olson - 2023 (43 HRs and counting)

What else can we say about Matt Olson in 2023? Last season, his first with the Braves, Olson had the pressure of the world on him following Freddie Freeman’s long reign at first base. It may not have been as great as he hoped, but he still went out and hit 36 homers and was one of the few bats to show up in the NLDS against Philadelphia.

In 2023 it has all came together for Matt. He’s still walking at an elite rate, his strikeouts have cut down drastically from the beginning on the season, and the power has been on FULL display. Olson currently leads the league in home runs (43) as I write this and already has set a career high with just over a month left to play.

The power Olson displayed has him on track for a magical season, and even garnered some MVP buzz around his name.

Ronald Acuña Jr. - 2019 (41 HRs)

Yes, as many as you probably already know, Ronald Acuña Jr. has perhaps the best combination of power and speed in baseball. This season Acuña Jr. has been going wild on the basepaths, leading baseball with 55 stolen bases.

On top of that he has a shot to join the ultra exclusive 40/40 club if he can pick up his home run pace a bit over the last month plus. Ronald just missed that club when he finished 2019 with 37 SBs, so this year it has been flipped. The betting favorite to win NL MVP would almost certainly secure that award if he does reach 40 bombs this year. Not only that, the great Eric Cole has to get a tattoo if he does so, sorry Eric.

This much talent being showcased is so fun to see, especially after it was clear Ronald was still recovering from that knee injury last season. In 2019 the baseball was definitely different…to put it kindly so reaching the 40 home run mark again this season would have that extra exclamation to it.

Andruw Jones - 2006 (41 HRs), 2005 (51 HRs)

Soon to be Braves Hall of Famer, Andruw Jones displayed some magical defense and a powerful bat throughout his Braves career. Jones’ flirted with the 40 homer mark a few times early in his career, but in 2005 he put together the best home run season in franchise history.

In 2005 Jones went ballistic, smashing a franchise record 51 home runs, along with a .575 slugging percentage, 134 wRC+, and career-high 7.9 fWAR season. The ‘05 baby Braves was the first year I remember being really tuned in every night as a nine year-old boy.

The team was fun and energetic, and Andruw’s amazing season quickly made him my favorite Brave. It was a career year for Jones, one that saw him finish second in NL MVP voting to the great Albert Pujols.

Javy Lopez - 2003 (43 HRs)

We have touched on it a bit at the site, but the 2003 Braves had a BUNCH of sluggers. It has often been regarded as the best Braves offense of all-time, that is until this season perhaps?

Leading the way in the home run department was the heart-throb himself, catcher Javy Lopez. He set a career-highs in numerous categories in 2003 including: homers (43), wOBA (.442), wRC+ (170), and fWAR (6.8). Partner that with a ridiculous .328/.378/.687 slash line and you see why it was a career year for Javy.

As we mentioned that offense absolutely mashed, and it had another player finish just short of the 40 homer mark. Gary Sheffield finished that season with 39 bombs. That 2003 team had six different players break the 20 home run mark. Javy paced the group and his season should be talked about more.

Chipper Jones - 1999 (45 HRs)

I mentioned Chipper’s 1999 MVP season earlier for good reason. That season makes the fifth most recent entry on our 40 home runs in a season list. Chipper hit 468 career homers, but none more in a season than the 45 he hit in 1999.

We all know the pedigree Chipper has, he’s a hall of fame switch hitter with a career .303/.401/.529 slash line, eight-time all-star, and batting title winner. There’s a reason he is still involved with so many of our hitters today.

1999 was the peak of his power department, but his baseball talent never dipped from there. That type of consistent greatness is what made him a first-ballot hall of famer. Let’s take a look at that ‘99 season though, because it deserves some recognition.

Chipper put together a career-high in homers, along with .319/.441/.663 slash line, plus 110 RBIs and 25 SBs. For fun I will leave you with a display of all that, when Chipper had a day against a fellow hall of famer, and one of the greatest pitchers of all-time.

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