The Braves are currently enjoying their All-Star break, except for those participating in the festivities in Dallas. Meanwhile, Alex Anthopoulos and the front office are focused on the MLB Draft and will soon shift their attention to the trade deadline. This is an ideal time to review the first half of the season.
Chase has already given the team a first-half grade, but I’d like to highlight the biggest disappointment on the team. While many fans might point to Orlando Arcia, who has been one of the worst players in baseball this season, he’s not who I have in mind.
When discussing disappointments, expectations must be considered. If you expected Arcia to replicate his previous season, that’s on you. On the other hand, expectations for Matt Olson entering his third season were quite high, and he has significantly underperformed.
After a decent first year in Atlanta, Olson had a breakout season in 2023, finishing fourth in MVP voting behind Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Ronald Acuña Jr. He led the National League in slugging (.604) and set a franchise record with 54 home runs, the highest in MLB. Olson also led the league with 139 RBIs.
He achieved career highs in batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.389), slugging (.604), OPS (.993), home runs (54), and RBIs (139) since becoming a full-time starter. His stellar performance made Braves fans appreciate Alex Anthopoulos’s decision to let Freddie Freeman go in free agency.
However, following the best season of his career, Olson is off to a rough start in 2024. He has only 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .714 OPS. His strikeouts have increased, walks have decreased, and he is struggling to find his form. Olson is hitting .229 with 109 strikeouts compared to just 36 walks, whereas last year, he struck out 167 times and walked 104 times.
In a Braves offense plagued by injuries and individual struggles, Olson is crucial for turning the lineup around. Of the eight All-Stars the Braves sent to Seattle last year, six have spent time on the injured list.
Austin Riley is heating up and looking like the MVP candidate fans are used to, but Olson has yet to find a consistent rhythm. The hope is that the All-Star break will help him reset because the Braves have little chance of catching the Phillies in the division without their best power hitter performing well.
We know Matt Olson is capable of more, which is why he stands out as the biggest disappointment of the first half of the Braves season.
