Matt Olson is heading into the second year of his eight-year, $168 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, signed shortly after the Braves acquired him from the Oakland A’s for a package of four players, including top catching prospect Shea Langeliers, outfielder Cristian Pache, and two arms, Joey Estes and Ryan Cusick.

Olson had a good, not great, year occupying the spot left vacant by the departed Freddie Freeman in 2022.

2022: .240BA/ 148H/ 103 RBI/ 34 HR/ 44 2B/ 75 BB while playing all 162 G

Olson had a good year in 2022, knocking in 103 runs and hitting 34 bombs. If he could repeat these stats and raise the batting average by 20 points, the Braves’ lineup would flow smoothly with Olson in the middle of it.

The Braves would love to see fewer strikeouts from their first baseman. Olson struck out 170 times (career high) in 2022, and this is a number Coach Snitker and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer would love to see come down significantly this season.

Strikeouts are inning-killers, especially from the middle of your lineup, so Olson needs to get that number down from a year ago.

If Olson can keep the home runs and rbi numbers where they are, add 20 or so points to his average, and cut down on the strikeouts, he will be an All-Star caliber player in 2023.

Matt Olson Bio and Notes

Age: 28
Number: 28
How he joined the Braves: Traded from Oakland A’s in 2022.
MLB Debut: 9/12/16.

Fun Fact: Olson is from Lilburn, Georgia right outside of Atlanta and attended Parkview High School. He purchased a home in Atlanta with his wife Nicole just months before being traded to the Braves.