Matt Olson and his MVP Caliber Season
About four months into the MLB season, Matt Olson leads the league in home runs and is currently on pace to reach 58 and compete for MVP. After leading the majors with the most home runs in spring training this year, Olson has shown that this season is no fluke, as he holds the National League lead at 50 home runs.
At 6’5” and 225 lbs, Olson has outdone himself as he has already had seven multi-homer games. His stance and approach are unique compared to others as his timing is almost always correct. Although Olson doesn’t set his hands until his swing begins, he ensures the rest of his body is intact. His approach also includes a slight toe tap, making his swing look effortless. Keeping a balanced and parallel swing helps Olson carry baseballs out of the park, especially against right-handed pitchers. Being a lefty has its benefits, but being able to take advantage of the at-bat and maintaining a 1.057 OPS against right-handed pitchers is a difficult task. To be fair, Olson isn’t a power hitter, which makes this season more respectable. He currently has a 1.000 OPS and leads the league in RBIs at 127. His consistent contact with the ball is what makes him an MVP candidate. In his last 15 games, he’s had 20 hits and 13 runs while slugging .763. The manner in which Matt Olson can utilize his strength to hit home runs and take the league lead but also consistently get base hits is what makes him stand out.
The essential question at hand is whether or not Matt Olson will be able to hit 60 home runs this season. There are multiple ways to look at this question; realistically, the answer is no. Statistically, it is impracticable for Matt Olson to remain on his pace even when including the postseason. It is already late in the season; therefore, he would have to hit ten home runs in the next 18 games. On a positive note, the Braves have an attainable end of the season in which they play a few easy teams, such as the Nationals. Matt Olson has a combined 12 home runs against the remaining teams the Braves are set to face. Looking at it from that perspective, 60 home runs may seem achievable, but with Atlanta leading the National League, it’s hard to believe that manager. Brian Snitker will allow his best players to play all 162 games. A more practicable record for Matt Olson this season would be the Braves club record, which is held by Andruw Jones at 51. As Matt Olson continues to have one of the best seasons of his career, fans will be watching to see which record he may surpass this year.