The Atlanta Braves offense has the luxury of boasting 10 hitters with at least 10 home runs, seven with at least 20, and four with at least 30.
Among those four, they have one with 50 home runs.
Suffice it to say, that man is the league leader in the category: Matt Olson.
He hit his 49th and 50th dingers of the season on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Olson drove in four of his team’s five runs and reached 127 on the year, also leading the league and a personal best for him.
Matt the bat!
Matt Olson is the first to 50 homers this season. ? pic.twitter.com/fdW39zBJrH
— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2023
The second-ranked player in homers, Shohei Ohtani, is six behind with 44.
Likewise, he has a comfortable lead in the RBI department: his 127 beat second place by 24.
Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, and Kyle Tucker each have 103.
It has been a magnificent season by Olson.
In any given year, it would be a top contender for MVP honors.
Unfortunately, his teammate Ronald Acuna Jr. and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts have been a bit better even if they don’t have Olson’s power numbers.
It’s still necessary to stop and wonder about the incredible numbers Olson is boasting in 2023.
He is slashing .279/.386/.614 with a 1.000 OPS.
All four (batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, and OPS) represent career-highs for Olson over a full season.
Realistically, he has a shot to finish with 55 home runs, 100 walks, 135 RBI, and 30 doubles.
For reference, only six players have had a season with those numbers: Babe Ruth (1921), Hack Wilson (1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932), Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Luis Gonzalez (all three in 2001).
In other words, Olson is well on his way to a historic season.
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