“I’ll Never Be Freddie”: Matt Olson’s Journey to Step Out of Freeman’s Shadow and Find His Own Place in Atlanta’s Heart
When Freddie Freeman left Atlanta, an era ended. His smile, his leadership, and his swing had defined the Braves for over a decade. Fans didn’t just lose a superstar — they lost an identity. And into that void stepped Matt Olson, a hometown kid carrying the heaviest burden in baseball: replacing a legend who was never supposed to leave.
“I’ll never be Freddie,” Olson said candidly not long after the trade. “I don’t want to be. He’s one of one. I just want to be the best version of myself.”
That honesty — raw, humble, and self-aware — has become the quiet backbone of Olson’s time in Atlanta. While many compared every at-bat, every smile, and every slump to Freeman’s, Olson focused on something simpler: playing his game.
His first year with the Braves was filled with noise — constant reminders of who came before him. Freeman’s Dodgers visits became emotional storylines; Olson’s struggles at the plate fed the narrative that he couldn’t live up to the legend. But instead of snapping, Olson listened, absorbed, and learned.
“There’s a mental weight that comes with being the guy after the guy,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “But Matt never let it define him. He just kept showing up, putting in the work. That’s how he earned this city’s respect.”
By 2023, Olson wasn’t just holding his own — he was rewriting expectations. A league-leading home run total, Gold Glove defense, and a quiet steadiness that reminded fans of something deeper: he didn’t need to be Freeman to lead. He just needed to be Olson.
Still, the comparisons never fully disappeared. Even now, some fans talk about “what could’ve been.” But Olson has learned to embrace it. “Freddie’s legacy here is incredible,” he said. “You don’t replace that. You honor it. And you build your own story next to it.”
That story is uniquely Atlanta. Olson grew up in the suburbs, watching the Braves on TV, dreaming of one day wearing that same uniform. When the team traded for him in 2022, it wasn’t just a baseball move — it was a homecoming.
He’s since become a fixture in the community, often seen at youth camps and charity events, always approachable, always grounded. “He represents the next chapter of what this team is about,” said teammate Austin Riley. “Blue-collar work ethic, no drama, just results.”
There’s still a quiet pride when Olson talks about what it means to play in his hometown. “I get to do this where it all started for me,” he said. “That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”
Freeman’s shadow may always linger, but Olson’s light shines differently — steady, humble, and unmistakably his own. Atlanta has learned that it doesn’t need another Freddie. It already has Matt Olson, a player who turned pressure into poise, and expectations into evolution.
As the crowd at Truist Park rises after another long homer sailing into the Georgia night, the cheers are no longer comparisons. They’re affirmations. Atlanta didn’t lose its heart — it simply found a new way for it to beat.
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