CONGRATULATIONS: “From Power Hitter to Defensive Legend” — Matt Olson Claims His Third Gold Glove, Cementing His Legacy as Atlanta’s Unshakable Cornerstone.vc
He doesn’t just hit — he protects. Matt Olson, the anchor of Atlanta’s infield, has officially added a third career Gold Glove to his name, proving once again that defense is a critical component of his greatness.
ATLANTA — While the thunderous cracks from his bat often echo throughout Truist Park, it was his flawless, quiet consistency with the glove that earned Matt Olson his latest hardware.
Rawlings officially announced on Sunday that the Atlanta Braves first baseman has won the 2025 National League Gold Glove Award.
The award is the third of Olson’s illustrious career but his first as a member of the Braves, making him only the second first baseman in Atlanta-era franchise history (since 1966) to win the honor, joining Freddie Freeman (2018).
The recognition silences any remaining narratives that Olson is just a power hitter. He has now cemented his legacy as one of the elite two-way players in the game and an “unshakable cornerstone” of the Braves’ franchise.
“He doesn’t just hit—he protects,” one analyst said of the announcement. “The anchor of Atlanta’s infield adds a third Gold Glove to his name, proving once again that defense can be just as beautiful as power.”
Olson, 31, beat out fellow NL finalists Bryce Harper of the Phillies and Spencer Steer of the Reds.
His 2025 defensive campaign was a masterpiece of consistency and durability. The Atlanta native played in all 162 games for the fourth consecutive year, leading all MLB first basemen with 1,429 innings played.
In that time, he was a vacuum at the corner, leading all first basemen in:
- Defensive Runs Saved (DRS): 17
- Fielding Run Value: 8
Olson’s 17 DRS was tied for the most by any first baseman in the last 15 years. He committed just five errors all season, tying his career-best with a .996 fielding percentage.
For the Braves, the award is a testament to the player they acquired in 2022. While his record-setting home runs grab the headlines, his glove provides the steady foundation that allows the rest of the infield to play with confidence.
