When it comes to Major League Baseball’s standout first basemen, Matt Olson has proven time and again he’s one of the top players in the game. However, 2024 threw him a few curveballs. After an electrifying 2023 season with the Atlanta Braves, where he hammered 54 home runs, notched 139 RBIs, and finished fourth in NL MVP voting, Olson found himself in new territory this past season: a struggle to meet the enormous expectations he set for himself.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently delved into Olson’s 2024 performance, placing him as the No. 5 first baseman in the league despite the challenges he faced. Despite stats that fell short of the previous season’s highs, Olson still delivered numbers that most players would be thrilled to reach. His season closed with a .247 batting average, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 78 runs across 685 plate appearances—a stat line that would be enviable to many, but for Olson, these figures mark a rare dip.
Reuter points out that this “down year” might be less about a drop in talent and more about the extraordinarily high bar Matt Olson had set. In the 2023 season, it was almost as if he couldn’t miss—a long, sustained hot streak that had him hitting .283 with a .604 slugging percentage and staying at the top of every offensive leaderboard.
The 2024 season looked different, but Olson’s ability to finish strong is a testament to his resilience. Over the season’s final two months, Olson found his rhythm again, hitting .289 with a .547 slugging percentage. In those last 55 games, he drove in 48 RBIs, nearly equaling his production from the previous 107 games.
While Olson’s 2024 campaign didn’t result in the kind of jaw-dropping numbers he produced the year before, it’s still clear that he remains a force at the plate. His 3.8 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) rating reflects the all-around value he brings to the Braves, even in a season that might have felt “off” by his standards. His offensive resurgence late in the season also underscores his streaky, high-impact potential—qualities that make him a nightmare for opposing pitchers when he’s locked in.
Olson’s end-of-season turnaround may hold a promising preview for 2025 for fans and analysts alike. The Braves have extended their playoff streak to seven seasons, which may not have been possible without Olson’s late-season surge. And if history is any guide, a productive stretch like this could mean Olson is gearing up for another banner season. Just as 2023 showed what Olson is capable of over a full year, his strong finish in 2024 suggests he could be primed to lead the Braves charge once again.
Though he narrowly missed reaching the 30-home-run and 100-RBI marks, Olson’s season shouldn’t be viewed as a disappointment. Instead, it’s a reminder of the high expectations and the consistency that make him one of the game’s elite first basemen. The final numbers may not look like the monster season he posted in 2023, but they’re a testament to his skill, grit, and role as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s success. For Braves fans, the good news is Matt Olson is poised for a fresh start in 2025—and if he finds his groove early, it could be another season to remember.
