Matt Olson, the Atlanta Braves’ power-hitting first baseman, etched his name into the franchise’s history books with a milestone 50th home run last night.
The Atlanta native, who grew up idolizing Braves legends, reached this remarkable feat in a doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Olson’s two homers on the day came in spectacular fashion. The first soared into the second deck, demonstrating the sheer strength and power that have become his trademark.
The second, a slicing shot to left field, showcased his versatility as a hitter. With these two homers, Olson moved into rarefied air among Atlanta’s all-time greats, trailing only Andruw Jones, who holds the single-season record with the 51 homers he hit in 2005.
Matt the bat!
Matt Olson is the first to 50 homers this season. 💪 pic.twitter.com/fdW39zBJrH
— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2023
Reflecting on the achievement, Olson said: “It’s definitely a cool moment I can look back on. I’d be lying if you said you don’t want it. But it’s not the priority.” Despite his individual success, Olson emphasized that winning remains the primary focus for the Braves.
While Olson’s historic night was undoubtedly a highlight, the Braves had their sights set on clinching their sixth consecutive National League East crown. A doubleheader split against the Phillies brought them closer to that goal.
Olson’s season totals of 50 homers and 127 RBIs put him within striking distance of Gary Sheffield’s Atlanta record of 132 RBIs set in 2003. Additionally, Olson’s eighth multi-homer game of the season puts him just one behind Andruw Jones’ club record from 2005.
Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Olson’s outstanding season, saying: “He’s putting together some kind of great year.”
(That would be an understatement.)
Shout out to the @Phillies and @kschwarb12 for retrieving Matt Olson's 50th home run ball 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mm0UvXkd7n
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 12, 2023
Where do you rank Olson among the best players in baseball?
The Braves certainly seem like the best team in the league – Will anyone get in their way of winning the World Series?