Matt Olson
With a sweet, powerful left-handed swing, he has quietly become one of baseball's most consistent and feared run-producing first basemen.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 29·Millennials
Biography
Matt Olson's rise to stardom is a study in steady, understated excellence. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics, he quickly established himself as a defensive wizard at first base, winning a Gold Glove with preternatural scooping ability. But it was the evolution of his bat that transformed him into a cornerstone. In Oakland, he grew from a pure power hitter into a more complete offensive force, leading the league in home runs. His trade to his hometown Atlanta Braves in 2022 was a homecoming, and he seamlessly replaced a franchise icon, immediately breaking the team's single-season home run record. Olson doesn't chase flash; his value lies in daily reliability—durable, disciplined at the plate, and capable of changing a game with one swing. He embodies the modern slugger who is also a complete ballplayer.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the Atlanta Braves single-season franchise record with 54 home runs in 2023.
- Won the American League Gold Glove Award at first base in 2018.
- Led Major League Baseball in home runs during the 2021 season with 39.
- Was selected as an MLB All-Star in 2021 and 2023.
Did You Know?
He grew up in Lilburn, Georgia, and was a Braves fan, making his trade to the team a dream scenario.
In high school, he was also a highly-touted pitching prospect.
He and Braves teammate Austin Riley were high school opponents in the Atlanta area.
“Hitting is about simplifying the chaos and seeing the pitch you want.”
