Matt Olson sets Braves franchise record for RBI in a single season
Yet more history was made by the Atlanta Braves on Thursday evening at Truist Park. Matt Olson now stands alone at the top of another category.
By Steven Teal
The Atlanta Braves continue to provide fans with special moments in 2023. This series with the Cubs has featured a lot of exciting memories. Wednesday night, the spotlight was rightfully on Ronald Acuna Jr. who became the first and only member of the 40/70 club.
Thursday night's feature was first baseman Matt Olson. Olson already broke the record for most home runs in a single season earlier this month.
Matt Olson has 54 homers, and no one else in the majors has more than 46. Olson has 136 RBIs, and no one else has more than 117.
β David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 29, 2023
The #Braves have 304 homers, and the next-highest MLB total is 243 by the Dodgers.
The Georgia native now owns the record for most RBI in a single season by an Atlanta Brave. Braves legend, Eddie Matthews, had owned that record since 1953 with 135 runs driven in during a single season.
Matt Olson hit a homer during the first inning of Thursday's game with the Cubs that stayed just inside the foul line in right field. That gave Olson his 54th home run of the season but more importantly, RBI's 135 and 136. He is now cemented as the Braves leader in both home runs and RBI.
History made (again)π
β Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 28, 2023
Matt Olson's 2-run home run sets the single-season franchise record for RBIs with πππ. pic.twitter.com/J3HHrUuxCB
It's been an absolute dream season for Olson who has been everything advertised and more since being traded to Atlanta before the 2022 season began. There was always the understanding that once he got comfortable in his role-playing for his hometown team, he would break out in a big way.
He certainly has done that offensively and defensively. Olson is the complete package that you want in a professional baseball player. He is now batting .282/.388/.607 with a .995 OPS. That includes 169 hits with 27 doubles, 3 triples, 54 home runs, and 136 RBI.
Home run number 54 for Olson also set an MLB team record. The Atlanta Braves have hit 47 first-inning home runs in 2023 which gives fans yet another reason to believe this is the best team Atlanta has ever seen.
Atlanta also has 304 home runs on the season now which is just 3 homers away from tying the MLB record set in 2019 by the Twins. With 3 games left, they have a chance to set another milestone. What a season it has been for the 2023 Braves.