Since Matt Olson first donned an Atlanta Braves uniform, fans have known that they have one of the best defensive first basemen in the game. However, because of the lack of transparency behind defensive metrics, we've been left guessing what areas Olson does better than other first basemen.
On Wednesday, however, MLB released a new stat on first base receiving, showing how they grade how first basemen receive throws from other fielders. Unsurprisingly, since they started tracking the stat internally in 2021, Olson is right at the top, just behind another familiar first baseman.
Matt Olson has excelled at scooping at first according to new Statcast stat
Since 2021, Olson has been credited with 28 receiving OAA, the second-best in all of MLB, behind only former Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has 29. The new metric analyzes scoops of course, but also grades first basemen on their ability to receive on target throws, bounces, low throws, high throws, and wide throws.
Over the same time period, Olson has also not only accumulated the most receiving OAA via on target throws, but is also also in the top-five in every other category. The Twitter/X account The WARmonger estimates that both Olson and Freeman are set to receive roughly 3.0 fWAR because of their abilities fielding throws. This shouldn't be too surprising. For years, Olson has been praised on his receiving abilities. Up until now, we just haven't had an exact metric to point at to prove he's one of the best in the game.
In 2026, Olson hasn't quite risen to the same standard he set for himself over the previous five seasons, coming in at exactly 0 receiving OAA. However, fans shouldn't worry about an impending regression. A few of the plays Olson has been penalized for have been a result of bang-bang plays where the Braves first baseman did everything he could. He's still had a fair share of scoops where he got an out on throws that looked impossible to get the out on.
Olson's already won one Gold Glove with the Braves, and his defense as a whole, from incredible throws on double plays to over the shoulder catches, have continued to wow fans this year. With Statcast's new stat, we have yet another way to see just how good Matt Olson is at defending first.
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