Don't call Matt Olson a slugger: Braves star studied his swing to become one of MLB's most complete hitters
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By Julian Mcwilliams
Published on May 9, 2026.
Matt Olson, a former power hitter for the Oakland Athletics, has spent his career trying to erase the label of a slugger. Despite his impressive raw power and tape-measure home runs, Olson has remained committed to becoming a more complete hitter. This year, in his 11th MLB season and fifth with the Braves, Olson is slashing at least.293/.379/.653 with a 186 OPS+ and 13 home runs in 39 games. His 13 homers tie him with Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead. Olson's contact rate is 79%, the highest mark of his career, while his swinging-strike rate dropped to 9%, also a career best. Despite previous struggles with his swing, Olson remains committed to studying his swing for further improvement.
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