When Freddie Freeman left the Atlanta Braves, we knew his successor would have big shoes to fill. We even wondered if someone could manage to forget the face of the franchise.
Then Matt Olson flew to Georgia from Oakland right after the lockout last year in a trade involving five players.
And you could say he chased away the ghost of Freeman as soon as he arrived. But, the first baseman didn’t stop there.
Not only has he continued his streak in 2023, but he’s taken his game to an unexpected level, thanks in part to the guidance of the Braves’ extra home hitting coach, none other than Chipper Jones.
Indeed, Olson is currently on track to hit 60 long balls this season, despite a slow start to the campaign. Imagine how many homers he would have blasted if he had gone full speed ahead, having already surpassed his career high in this regard.
This coincides with manager Brian Snitker’s decision to place him fourth in the offensive lineup after the first 68 games of the season, where he was hitting second overall.
Since that time, the 29-year-old leads both leagues in home runs and hits, while maintaining a .325 batting average during that span.
With an eight-year, $168 million contract in hand, plus a $20 million option year for 2030 at the club’s discretion, it’s safe to say the two sides are in for a long drive. period.
Perhaps the last years of the pact will be more difficult, but we must admit that for the moment, Olson is worth every penny.
