MVP contenders Matt Olson (right) and Ronald Acuna, Jr. are powering the Atlanta Braves to their … [+] sixth straight division crown. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Last year, he chased the ghost of Freddie Freeman. This year, he’s following in the footsteps of Andruw Jones. But Matt Olson insists he never felt any pressure.
“Last year, there was a bit of chatter because of what Freddie did for the organization and what kind of player he is,” said the man who replaced him as first baseman for the Atlanta Braves.
“And I’m not worried about Andruw either. What’s going to happen is going to happen.
“My whole career goes back to being confident. If you feel solid in your preparation and the right results happen, that’s great. We all have our ups and downs but hopefully it all evens out.”
Olson, 29, overcame a slow start this season to become the first player with triple digits in runs batted in. He also topped his career peak in home runs when he hit his 40th Aug. 10 in Pittsburgh. That put him on pace for 57 home runs, six more than the Braves franchise record of 51, hit by Andruw Jones in 2005.
“I feel a lot more comfortable the second time around,” said the 6’5″ left-handed slugger. “But I can’t say I had an epiphany or any sort of ah-ha moment.
“That’s the beauty of the game we play in. It’s a long season for a reason and there are going to be ups and downs throughout the course of 162 games. If you stay diligent and confident in your work, you may have your highs and lows but it will all revert back to the mean.”
One of eight Atlanta players on the 2023 National League roster, Olson joined catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia, and right-fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. as starters. Fellow infielders Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley plus pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder also made the squad.
Armed with a eight-year, $168 million contract that runs through 2029, with a one-year, $20 million club option for 2030, Olson has thrived since moving from second to fourth in the Braves batting order.
Matt Olson (28) congratulates fellow Atlanta slugger Austin Riley, then follows up with a home run … [+] of his own. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Manager Brian Snitker made the move – effectively switching Olson and Albies — on June 15 after Olson batted second in the team’s first 68 games this season.
In his first 44 games batting fourth, Olson led both leagues in home runs (21), at-bats per home run (7.8), runs batted in (55), and slugging (.785) while hitting .325 over that span. He also led the majors with 11 first-inning home runs.
When he homered twice during Atlanta’s 21-3 thrashing of the New York Mets in the opener of a day-night double-header at CitiField Saturday, Olson posted his seventh multi-home run game of the year.
Acquired from Oakland in a five-player trade on March 14, 2022, immediately after the owners ended their lockout, Olson had trouble adjusting to the change in scenery or the constant comparisons to Freeman, who had become the Face of the Franchise following the retirement of Hall of Famer Chipper Jones.
“I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the change [in leagues] until after the season when everything slowed down a little bit,” said the veteran first baseman, an Atlanta native who grew up rooting for the Braves in general and Chipper Jones in particular.
“You get the chance to kind of reflect. I had been with the same organization for 10 years. All of a sudden, you meet new coaches, new teammates, new philosophies, and even new terminology for certain things. It was a little but of an adjustment but I’m a lot more comfortable the second time around.”
The stats tell the same story. In 2022, he had 34 home runs and a club-best 103 runs batted in but a batting average of only .240, a career low for an uninterrupted season.
His on-base percentage (.325), slugging average (.477), and OPS (.802) were also among the worst of his seven-year career.
But things have changed, partly because of batting tips provided by Jones, an extra hitting instructor for Braves home games.
Entering play Sunday night, Olson was hitting .270 with 42 home runs and 105 runs batted in. The average was 20 points above his lifetime mark.
“I think we have a super-talented group here,” the first baseman said when asked about his resurgence. “It’s not like anybody’s expected to come out and carry the load every night. We have different dudes doing it all the time. That’s a good feeling and makes it easy for us as a lineup.”
Olson should know; he leads all major-league first basemen in home runs, runs batted in, and slugging while ranking a close second to Freeman in runs, extra-base hits, total bases, and OPS.
Also in Olson’s sights are the Atlanta club record for runs batted in (132 by Gary Sheffield in 2003) and the Braves franchise RBI record (135 by Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews in 1953). He could also become the first Brave to knock in the most runs in the National League since Andruw Jones in 2005.
Batting fourth in a powerful lineup that threatens Mionnesota’s 2019 team home run record of 307, Olson benefits from the big bats in front of him and behind him. He usually bats between Riley and Murphy. Occasionally, Travis d’Arnaud or Marcell Ozuna will follow Olson in a batting order without weak spots.
Even No. 9 hitter Michael Harris II, last year’s Rookie of the Year, is pushing .300 after a slow start.
Major-league home run leader Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves watches a two-run homer clear the … [+] fence. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
A durable athlete who has twice played the entire 162-game schedule, Olson has not missed a game this year either. Albies and Riley have also played every game.
As a result, the Braves lead the majors in victories (75), winning percentage (.647), and biggest divisional lead (11 games over Philadelphia) as they pursue their sixth straight NL East title, the longest active streak in baseball.
They are also on track to top their 101 wins of last season and clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Matt Olson has played a big part in making it possible.
