Matt Olson

Matthew Kent Olson, born on March 29, 1994, is an esteemed figure in the world of Major League Baseball (MLB) and currently plays as a professional baseball first baseman for the Atlanta Braves. He started his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics after being picked by them in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft, earning him the recognition of being among the elite group of first-round picks.

His journey with the Athletics ended after six resonant seasons, after which he was traded to the Atlanta Braves before the 2022 season. This transition was followed by him signing an eight-year contract extension with the Braves, effectively establishing a long-standing relationship with the team. His exceptional contributions to baseball have earned him numerous awards, including two Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, three Fielding Bible Awards, and the distinction of being an MLB All-Star in 2021 and 2023.

Matthew Olson’s family, especially his parents Lee and Scott Olson, played a significant role in his development as a promising baseball player. His father assumed the role of a coach during his youth baseball years while his older brother, Zack, later became a pitcher for the Harvard Crimson.

Matthew Olson’s early foray into baseball took place at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. His role as the first baseman provided a solid foundation for his future career, and his twin victories leading the Parkview Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012 underlined his innate talent for the sport. In his high school career, his impressive statistics included a .431 batting average, 44 doubles, 45 home runs, 168 runs batted in (RBIs), and a fielding percentage exceeding 0.980. He set records and in 2019, Olson’s high school honored him by retiring his uniform number, No. 21.

After graduating from high school with honors in 2012, the Oakland Athletics drafted him in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. Although he had planned on playing college baseball at Vanderbilt University, he decided to sign with Oakland instead. In the 2013 season, Olson he displayed a remarkable performance, hitting 23 home runs. Over the subsequent years, he was consistently among the top-ranking players in minor league baseball and ascended to MLB after the completion of the 2016 minor league season.

He shone is his debut season in MLB, coming in the top three for most home runs in a player’s first 65 career games in MLB history. By 2018, he was at the top of his game, winning his first Gold Glove Award and playing all 162 games for Oakland. Olson’s career took a hit in 2019 due to an injury which required surgery, but he returned stronger than ever, scooping up his second consecutive Gold Glove Award.

Maintaining his extraordinary feat, Olson emboldened his record in 2021, leading the Oakland’s in games played, hits, home runs, RBIs, and walks. This outstanding performance secured his selection for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.

In a progressive development in his baseball career, 2022 saw him being traded to the Atlanta Braves and signing an eight-agent year contract extension, making it the largest contract in team history at the time. By mid-2023, he had already earned a place as a reserve infielder for the National League in the MLB All-Star game. He laid down a new franchise record for the quickest 40-homer season and became the second-ever member of the 50 home run club from the Braves.

In addition to his flourishing career, Olson also found joy in his personal life as he married his wife Nicole in November 2021. They reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Being a conscientious member of society, he makes sure to give back to his community and is affiliated with ReClif, a center meant to help individuals on the autism spectrum. In recognition of his humanitarian ideals, he was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award by the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Matthew Kent Olson is undoubtedly a shining star both on and off the baseball field.