2024 hasn't been the best season for Atlanta Braves first baseman. Matt Olson had one of the best MLB seasons you could have in recent memory when he blasted 50+ home runs and drove in 130+ runs.
There were high expectations for him to reach similar numbers this season but that option isn't easy to attain unless you are at the peak of your career. Olson struggled in the first half with a .230 average through 95 games.
Matt Olson since 7/24
— Beaneater Buzz (@BeaneaterB) September 19, 2024
.279/.368/.558
.927 OPS
150 wRC+
29 XBH(13 HR)
32 R
46 RBI
12.3 BB%
21.1 K%
Matt Olson has been performing at a superstar level virtually the entire 2nd half.
He's improved greatly since the All-Star break with a .264 average through 58 games with 15 homers and 50 RBI. Matt hit well in May despite having a rough first month to the season but he fell back off once June rolled around.
September is the best month of the season by far. He has a .317 average through 17 games played with 19 hits including six doubles, three homers, and 17 RBI. It's great that Olson has finally figured things out at the plate but it could be too little, too late.
Yes, despite Olson being above average in multiple metric categories including exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, bat speed, walks, and xwOBA, his performance may end up meaning nothing.
He helped lead the Braves beatdown over the Reds on Thursday afternoon with a two-homer performance. Olson had a solo homer and three-run homer in Atlanta's 15-3 win. It was a win that saw the Braves offense accomplish what no MLB offense could. They are the first team to hit four, three-run homers in a single game.
Per @EliasSports, the Braves today became the first team in MLB history (since 1900) to hit at least four, three-run home runs in a single game.#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/RhQxsCt1JA
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 19, 2024
Those two homers gave Matt 28 round-trippers on the season and 94 runs driven in. This has him on the verge of reaching his third consecutive season of 30+ homers and 100+ RBI in a season since joining the Braves.
Olson had wanted to provide fans with another incredible season offensively but like most of the offense, it's been hard to come by at times. Atlanta was deemed a World Series favorite at the beginning of the year but injuries and severe underperformance plague them.
Somehow, thanks to great pitching and the front office finding the right replacements, Atlanta didn't fall out of contention for a playoff spot. They weren't going to win the division but they led in the Wild Card race for a while.
But the continued offensive struggles caught up to them and the Braves fell out of contention as they now trail the Mets and Diamondbacks by two games. Olson's hot stretch has been encouraging to see but he may have missed his chance to help the team reach their postseason goal.