Matt Olson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Olson |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Olson with the Atlanta Braves in 2022
|
|||
| Atlanta Braves – No. 28 | |||
| First baseman | |||
| Born: March 29, 1994 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 12, 2016, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
|||
| Batting average | .254 | ||
| Hits | 985 | ||
| Home runs | 259 | ||
| Runs batted in | 713 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Matthew "Matt" Kent Olson was born on March 29, 1994. He is an American professional baseball player. Matt plays as a first baseman for the Atlanta Braves. This team is part of Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Braves, he played for the Oakland Athletics.
The Athletics chose Matt in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016. After playing six seasons with the Athletics, he moved to the Braves in 2022. He signed a big eight-year contract with them. Matt has won many awards, including two Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger Award. He was also chosen as an MLB All-Star in 2021 and 2023.
Contents
Matt Olson's Early Life
Matt Olson is the second son of Scott and Lee Olson. His dad, Scott, coached Matt and his brother in youth baseball. Matt's older brother, Zack, later played baseball for Harvard University.
High School Baseball Star
Matt went to Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. He played first base and pitched for the Parkview Panthers. He helped his team win two state championships in a row in 2011 and 2012.
Matt had a great high school career. He had a .431 batting average. He also hit 45 home runs and had 168 runs batted in (RBIs). His uniform number, 21, was retired by his high school in 2019. This means no one else at Parkview High will wear that number.
After high school, Matt was drafted by the Oakland Athletics. He had planned to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. But he decided to sign with the Athletics instead.
Matt Olson's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Matt Olson began his professional career in 2012. He played for the Arizona League Athletics and the Vermont Lake Monsters. In his first season, he hit nine home runs and had 45 RBIs.
He continued to play in the minor leagues for several years. In 2014, he played for the Stockton Ports. He hit 37 home runs and had 97 RBIs that season. He was one of the top home run hitters in Minor League Baseball.
Playing for the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics called Matt up to the major league team on September 12, 2016. He played in 11 games that year. In 2017, he split his time between the minor leagues and the Athletics. He hit 24 home runs in just 59 games for Oakland. He hit 13 home runs in September alone, which was a record for a rookie.
In 2018, Matt played in all 162 games for the Athletics. He hit his first career "walk-off" hit on April 18. This is a hit that wins the game in the final inning. He also hit his first "grand slam" (a home run with the bases loaded). Matt finished the season with 29 home runs and 84 RBIs. He also won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at first base.
In 2019, Matt had surgery on his hand but returned to play. He continued to be a strong defensive player. He won his second straight Gold Glove Award.
The 2020 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt hit a "walk-off grand slam" on Opening Day. Even though he struggled a bit with his batting average, he led the team in home runs and RBIs.
In 2021, Matt had a fantastic season. He led the Athletics in home runs (39) and RBIs (111). He was chosen to play in the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also took part in the 2021 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, where players compete to hit the most home runs.
Joining the Atlanta Braves
On March 14, 2022, the Athletics traded Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves. The next day, he signed a huge 8-year contract with the Braves. This was the biggest contract in the team's history at the time. Matt wears the number 28 jersey for the Braves.
In 2022, Matt was one of only two players in MLB to play in all 162 games. This shows how durable and important he is to his team.
In 2023, Matt was again chosen as an All-Star. On August 10, he hit his 40th home run of the season. This set a new Braves record for reaching 40 homers the fastest. On September 11, he hit his 50th home run. He became only the second Braves player ever to hit 50 home runs in a season. He then broke the Braves' single-season home run record on September 16. He also set a new team record for RBIs in a season. After the 2023 season, Matt won the Silver Slugger Award for first basemen. This award goes to the best offensive players at each position.
Matt Olson's Personal Life
Matt Olson married his wife, Nicole, in November 2021. They live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Matt is also involved in charity work. He was the Atlanta Braves' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2023. This award honors players who give back to their communities. Matt works with ReClif, a center that helps people on the autism spectrum.
See also
- Atlanta Braves award winners and league leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
