Much of the talk regarding making history with the Atlanta Braves has understandably centered around the insane season Ronald Acuna Jr. is having. However, another Brave that is having a tremendous season that isn't getting enough love is first baseman Matt Olson. Olson currently leads all of baseball with 46 home runs while also posting a 152 wRC+ and 4.8 fWAR in 2023. However, it is his RBI total that will be the focus here.
As of 9/7. Olson has driven in 115 runs this season which is 13 more than any other player in MLB so far. With Olson appearing to be a lock to eclipse 120 RBI in 2023, he will likely join a very exclusive group in Braves history.
Here are the only Atlanta Braves to drive in 120 runs in a season
In a lot of ways, runs batted in a team statistic as a key component of it requires batters to get on base ahead of a hitter. Given how good the Braves' lineup is this season, it hardly surprising that Atlanta has three players in the top 20 in RBI. However, Olson's excellence at driving runners in is particularly impressive and as we will see, something that has been rarely seen in franchise history. Case in point: as good as Chipper Jones and Javy Lopez were at the plate for the Braves, neither of them managed to get 120 RBI in a season.
Let's take a look at the Braves players that were able to drive in 120 runs in a season and it starts with a very familiar name.
Hank Aaron - 7 times
To the surprise of exactly no one, Hank Aaron had the most seasons with 120 RBI or more at seven. Aaron eclipsed the mark in 1957, 1959-1963, and 1966. Hank was also the only Braves player to drive in 130+ runs multiple times as well, although he does not hold the franchise record for a Braves season. That name comes a little bit later.