Â
After losing Freddie Freeman to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, the Atlanta Braves didn’t skip a beat.
They had acquired Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics a few days prior and were prepared to slot him in at first base.
The 28-year-old adjusted to Atlanta just fine, hitting .240 with 34 home runs, 103 RBI, 86 runs scored, and an OPS of .802.
The slugger is also off to a great start this spring, having hit seven home runs in Grapefruit League play.
He hit his seventh blast on Thursday against the New York Mets.
In fact, he joined some elite Braves company with that home run, tying Freeman for the most home runs in a single spring training since 2006.
Most HR by Braves player, single Spring Training (since spring stats tracked, 2006):
2023 Matt Olson: 7
2013 Freddie Freeman: 7
2012 Freddie Freeman: 7Overall record in span: 2006 Ryan Howard, 11
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 24, 2023
Freeman accomplished the feat in 2012 and again in 2013.
10 years later, Freeman’s replacement accomplished the same feat.
And there’s still time for him to break that record, as the Braves do not break camp until Tuesday.
Barring an injury, Olson has a good chance to make some Braves history.
The most home runs in a single slate of spring training games by one player since 2006 is 11.
That was accomplished by Philadelphia Phillies legend Ryan Howard back in 2006.
Howard went on to hit 58 home runs that season and win the NL MVP Award.
Perhaps Olson is on a similar trajectory.
This is a good sign for the Braves as they look to bounce back from their NLDS loss to the Phils and win their second World Series title three years.
Olson is coming into the season hot, and so are the Braves.
