Braves' Olson becomes 5th player since 2010 to hit 50 HRs
Altanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson belted his 50th home run of the season in Monday's second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.
50th on the season and his second homer tonight! pic.twitter.com/PoARKIHMFF
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 12, 2023
Olson's blast in the sixth inning was his second of the contest after hitting a three-run dinger in the third frame of an eventual 7-5 loss.
Mighty Matt! 💪#ForTheA | @mattolson21 pic.twitter.com/JRVw0p9BAV
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 11, 2023
The 29-year-old All-Star is the fifth MLB player since 2010 to reach 50. He joins Aaron Judge (who did it twice), Chris Davis, Giancarlo Stanton, and Pete Alonso. Jose Bautista also reached the plateau during the 2010 campaign, hitting 54.
Olson is now one homer short of tying the Braves' single-season record of 51 set by Andruw Jones in 2005.
"It's pretty cool, especially because it was someone I watched and admired growing up," Olson said when asked about Jones cheering for him to break the record, according to Kelly Crull of Bally Sports South. "It's neat to have the guys who played before you, for the team you watched every night as a child, root for you."
The Braves won the first game 10-8.
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