Aklinski, Nelson race towards 30-30

When the Charleston Dirty Birds face the High Point Rockers in a three-game set starting Tuesday, August 26, it is quite likely that an Atlantic League milestone will be set.

While baseball fans salute those players with the speed and power to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, there are a handful of players whose display of talent is even greater.

Four players this season have already achieved 20-20 status: Brady Whalen of Lexington with 22 homers and 28 stolen bases, and Justin Wylie of Gastonia who has hit 20 round-trippers and stolen 22 bases, are two of them.

Then there is Charleston’s James Nelson and High Point’s Ben Aklinski. Both are on the verge of the 30-30 Club.

No player in ALPB history has ever had 30 homers and 30 stolen bases. Nelson enters Tuesday’s game at High Point with 29 homers and 45 stolen bases. He ranks second in the league in homers and third in stolen bases. He is just one HR away from 30-30.

Aklinski is also on the verge with 28 homers and 29 stolen bases.

Both Nelson and Aklinski have already gone where no ALPB player has previously been.

Nelson’s next homer would put him in the 30-45 club, a first for any ALPB player. In fact, the most stolen bases by an ALPB player who hit 30 homers in a season is 25 set by Wylie last season. And the most homers by a player with 45 or more stolen bases is just 19, set by York’s Matt McDermott in 2024.

So while Nelson seeks the exclusivity of 20-45, Aklinski has also achieved unique status. He is the first player in ALPB history with three consecutive 20-20 seasons and is seeking to become the first with multiple 20 homer, 30 stolen base seasons.

All eyes will be on the Dirty Birds-Rockers series which opens Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at High Point’s Truist Point.