The Atlanta Braves are entering the new season expecting their offense to once again be anchored by one of the most durable and productive first basemen in baseball. Matt Olson has become a constant presence in the middle of Atlanta’s lineup, combining elite power with Gold Glove defense and everyday availability.
Since arriving ahead of the 2022 season in a trade with the Athletics, Olson has helped stabilize the heart of the order while also serving as one of the club’s most dependable players.
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Olson’s value extends beyond raw production. He has appeared in all 162 games in each of his seasons with Atlanta, a streak that underscores his reputation as one of baseball’s true iron men in an era defined by workload management. That durability, paired with consistent power output, has made him one of the most important players on the roster.
That consistency is part of why expectations remain high entering 2026. “Olson has hit the fourth-most home runs since 2018 and he stands with Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber as the only players to hit 29-plus homers each of the past five seasons. He started slowly and then finished strong both of the past two seasons, notching a .969 OPS in his final 45 games last year. He had a .929 OPS in April of 2023 and cruised toward franchise records in homers and RBIs. If he gets off to a good start, he’ll be in the thick of the MVP talk just like he was three years ago,” wrote MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
The projection highlights how Olson’s early-season performance could determine whether he becomes a legitimate MVP candidate. Even without a fast start in recent years, he has still produced at a high level.
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During the 2025 season, Olson posted a .272 batting average, .366 on-base percentage and an .850 OPS with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs. Those numbers reflect both his steady power and his ability to remain a middle-of-the-order threat over a full schedule.
Olson’s overall impact is also felt on defense, where he has built an award-winning reputation. He owns three career Gold Gloves and continued to perform at an elite level at first base during the 2025 campaign, reinforcing his value as more than just a slugger. In addition to his defensive accolades, Olson has earned three All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger during his career.
If Olson pairs his typical durability with a faster start at the plate, the Braves could once again have a legitimate MVP contender anchoring their lineup as they look to reassert themselves as a National League powerhouse.