The Milwaukee Brewers are not usually known for making big splashes in free agency. This offseason’s signing of first baseman Rhys Hoskins was possible because he had missed the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL. Even so, it cost Milwaukee $17 million annually in order to get him. Even then, the second year of his deal is a player option, so there is no guarantee he will be with the Brewers beyond this season.
Matthew Kent Olson (born March 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics.
Olson was drafted by the Athletics in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2016. After six seasons with the Athletics, he was traded to the Braves prior to the 2022 season and signed an eight-year contract extension. Olson has won two Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, three Fielding Bible Awards, and was an MLB All-Star in 2021 and 2023.
Early life[edit]
Olson is the second son of Scott and Lee Olson.[1] Scott Olson served as his sons’ youth baseball coach,[2] until high school.[3] Matt Olson’s older brother, Zack, later pitched for the Harvard Crimson.[3] Matt Olson attended Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, where he played first base and pitched for the Parkview Panthers, leading them to back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012.[4] Olson finished his high school career with a .431 batting average, 44 doubles, 45 home runs, 168 runs batted in (RBIs), and a fielding percentage over 0.980. He holds the Parkview High School and Gwinnett County records for wins and RBIs. His uniform number, No. 21, was retired by Parkview High School in February 2019.[5] After graduating from high school with honors in 2012, Olson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] He had committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University, but ultimately decided to forgo his commitment to the Commodores and signed with Oakland.[8]
