Braves’ Matt Olson wins National League Gold Glove award
Matt Olson’s defensive excellence was celebrated again Sunday. He earned the third Gold Glove award in his career and first with the Braves.
The Gold Glove is given to the player who is deemed the sport’s best defender at each position in each league. The process is decided by managers and coaches voting, as well as SABR Defensive Index (statistical measurements).
The Braves’ first baseman had a sensational defensive campaign, leading all first basemen in fielding run value (8) and defensive runs saved (17). He appeared in all 162 games, posting a career-best-tying .996 fielding percentage in an MLB-leading 1,429 innings at first base. Olson also produced nine double plays, most in the National League.
Olson, 31, beat out fellow NL finalists Bryce Harper (Philadelphia) and Spencer Steer (Cincinnati) for the award. He’s the second Braves first baseman to win a Gold Glove following Freddie Freeman in 2018.
Olson also recently won the Fielding Bible Award at first base for the fifth time. He’s assembled a resume as an ironman who consistently has excelled defensively. That’s without mentioning the offense, as he’s an elite power threat and the franchise’s single-season home run record holder. The Atlanta native has been everything the Braves could’ve hoped when they acquired him prior to the 2022 season.
Braves shortstop Nick Allen was also a Gold Glove finalist, but the NL Gold Glove went to the Cardinals’ Masyn Winn.
The Braves have had a Gold Glove winner in five of the past six seasons. They haven’t had multiple winners in one year since 2022 (pitcher Max Fried and shortstop Dansby Swanson).
About the Author
Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.
