Atlanta Braves slugger Matt Olson (29) surpassed ‘Japanese baseball genius’ Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) and became the first to hit 50 home runs in the American professional baseball Major League (MLB).
Olson hit multiple home runs in the 2023 MLB away game against the Philadelphia Phillies held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on the 12th (Korean time). Olson, who had hit 48 home runs before today’s game, added two home runs that day to reach 50 home runs.
In the top of the third inning, down 0-4, with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base, Olson kicked up Philadelphia starter Michael Lorenzen’s low slider to the body and connected it with a 3-run home run that went over the right wall. Following the 49th home run of the season, the 50th home run was also hit immediately. In a full-count game, he pushed opposing starter Lorenzen’s high outside changeup with all his might and hit it over the left wall.
With this, Olson became the second Atlanta hitter to hit 50 home runs in a season after Andrew Jones hit 51 home runs in 2005. In addition, he was only one away from Jones’ record of 51 home runs in a season.
Olson had a fierce home run competition with Ohtani until the middle of the season. However, while Ohtani was stuck at 44 home runs for the season due to injury, Olson added a lot of home runs and eventually reached 50 home runs first. Olson widened the home run gap with Ohtani by six, effectively becoming the home run king in both major leagues.
In MLB history, there have been 48 home runs in a season, starting with ‘legendary home run king’ Babe Ruth (then of the New York Yankees) in 1920, when he hit 54 home runs, and ending with Olson this year. Among them, the Yankees recorded the most with 10. The Yankees also hold the unique record of producing two batters (Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle) with more than 50 home runs in a season in 1961. Before Olson, Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) hit 62 home runs last year. He broke the American League record for most home runs set by Roger Maris (then of the New York Yankees) in 1961.
Atlanta lost 5-7 to Philadelphia despite Olson’s performance of 2 hits in 3 at-bats (2 home runs), 1 walk, and 4 RBIs.
Meanwhile, Ohtani, who led the entire big league in home runs until last month, has recently missed eight consecutive games due to a side injury. On this day, he was named in the starting lineup as the number 2 designated hitter against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, but was removed from the roster right before the game.메이저사이트
Ohtani, who injured his side muscle during batting practice ahead of the Baltimore Orioles game on the 5th, is recovering slower than initially expected. There are predictions locally that he may finish the season like this.