Matt Olson will replace Atlanta Braves teammate and fellow All-Star Ronald Acuna Jr. in Monday’s Home Run Derby.
This marks Olson’s second Home Run Derby after he participated in 2021 when he was with the Oakland Athletics. The 31-year-old first baseman has tallied 17 home runs this season and was named an All-Star for the third time in his career.
Olson has been one of the league’s premier power hitters recently, swatting 173 homers since 2021 and leading the majors in 2023 with 54.
Acuna was scratched from the Braves’ Tuesday game against the Athletics due to back tightness, but will start in the outfield for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
After recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, the 27-year-old former MVP has hit 11 home runs in 42 games and holds a 1.022 OPS this year.
Olson rounds out the Home Run Derby field, barring any other replacements. He joins Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees), Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners), Brent Rooker (Athletics), Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates), James Wood (Washington Nationals), Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins) and Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays).
Reports: Matt Olson to replace Ronald Acuna Jr. in Home Run Derby
