There’s no replacing Freddie Freeman. Let’s just say that right out loud. You don’t just swap out an MVP, a World Series champion, and a face-of-the-franchise type and expect people not to have opinions. And when the Atlanta Braves traded for Matt Olson ahead of the 2022 season, they didn’t just bring in a new first baseman — they lit the match for one of the loudest fan debates of the last decade.
But here we are, four seasons later, and apparently, that debate is still burning. And now? Even Freddie Freeman has had enough.
Freeman Says “Let Matt Olson Be Matt Olson”
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Freeman isn’t loving the ongoing chatter comparing his Braves legacy to what Matt Olson is doing now. And honestly, who can blame him? The guy left Atlanta for L.A. — it happened. It’s done. But people can’t stop drawing the line from Freeman’s exit straight through every Olson at-bat.
Freeman’s message? Stop. He’s not here for the drama. “I don’t feel for him because he hits 50 home runs a year,” Freeman told USA Today. “He’s doing just fine. He hits way more homers than me. Let Matt Olson be Matt Olson. He’s doing a wonderful job.”
This isn’t shade, by the way. This is one franchise icon giving credit to his successor. And to be fair, Olson has earned it. He’s one of the most consistent power hitters in the game, and he hasn’t flinched in the shadow of a legend. Is it still weird for some fans? Sure. Do they miss Freeman? Of course. But you can acknowledge that and appreciate what Olson brings to the table.
From Replacement to Respected
Olson got a standing ovation during the Home Run Derby in Atlanta. That says a lot. Braves fans have warmed up to the local kid (yes, he’s from the area), and while the comparisons to Freeman might still pop up on talk radio or Twitter, it’s safe to say most fans now get it: Olson isn’t Freeman — but that’s okay.
It’s also a reminder that both things can be true. Should the Braves have found a way to keep Freddie? Maybe. But did they land one heck of a Plan B? Absolutely.
And while debates like these never fully die — because let’s face it, sports fans love nothing more than picking a side — having Freeman himself step in and tell everyone to cool it might just turn the volume down a notch.
So let’s give Olson his flowers. Three-time All-Star, 50-homer power, and a rock at first base in a franchise that’s been through its fair share of turnover lately. He’s not the ghost of Braves past — he’s a cornerstone of Braves present.
